❶ When Waiting Becomes an Identity

• Background:  “Freedom Of Movement V. Restrictions On Movement Under The Two Legal Systems.” Palestine-Israel Journal Of Politics, Economics & Culture
• Background:  The Chicago Hearing. American Friends Service Committee.

❷ EU guarantees right to boycott Israel
. . . ❷― (a) Qatar University: Student Council Votes for Boycott of Israel
. . . ❷― (b) War on Roger Waters due to supporting Palestine
❸ Why Palestinians are unfazed by calls to cut off US aid
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❶ WHEN  WAITING  BECOMES  AN  IDENTITY  
This Week in Palestine  
Sani P. Meo
November 2016
For decades now, I’ve seen the queues of Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem . . . Whether you need to renew your identity card, register your marriage or the birth of your child, or submit an address change, for example, the Ministry of Interior is your Mecca! True, all civilized countries need to keep track of their citizens . . .  but it is no secret that the scene is different in West Jerusalem for Israeli citizens . . .  waiting has become an inevitable part of our lives. Whether it’s at red traffic lights, in checkout lines, or in doctors’ clinics, we all wait; however, I dare say that in Palestine, waiting has a special flare to it that has become an integral part of Palestinian identity.    More . . .  

• Sela, Ronit. “Freedom Of Movement V. Restrictions On Movement Under The Two Legal Systems.” Palestine-Israel Journal Of Politics, Economics & Culture 21.3 (2016): 31-38.   Full article.  

The evolvement of two separate legal regimes in the West Bank is one of the most prominent and troublesome characteristics of the Israeli occupation. This separation is premised on an ethno-national basis, reflected in every aspect of life, and severely infringes upon the rights of the Palestinian residents. . . .
[. . . .] Restriction of movement infringes not only upon the right to freedom of movement but rather violates a range of rights. For Palestinians, those restrictions impact where a person can live, whether family members will be able to come and visit, how fast one can reach a hospital, which opportunities for studies and employment are available, and much more.
[. . . .] This occurs in spite of the fact that international humanitarian law . . . places numerous obligations on Israel to protect the Palestinian population over whom it occupies. Moreover, international law clearly and unambiguously forbids the creation of settlements in the heart of the occupied land. . .  As a consequence of the expansion of the settlement blocs, the human rights violations against the Palestinian people have increased and become more entrenched. Three aspects of limitations on the freedom of movement of Palestinians . . .  physical restrictions on movement, limits on choosing one‘s place of residency, and traffic law enforcement that hinders on movement. . . .The Israeli authorities routinely justify this discrimination against Palestinians by stating security considerations, both for national security and tor the sake of providing protection to settlers.
[. . . .] These and other hardships are the result of the systematic separation that exists on the ground and within the legal framework of the dual legal system. The separation essentially exists between Palestinians on the one hand, and all those who are not Palestinian on the other hand, be it settlers, Israeli visitors or international visitors. The basic principles of international humanitarian law, meant to protect residents of the occupied territory, are routinely ignored, leaving Palestinians exposed and highly vulnerable.

• The Chicago Hearing: Does U.S. Policy on Israel and Palestine Uphold Our Values? An Initiative of the American Friends Service Committee, Chicago Sunday, April 18, 2010 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM University of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall     Website
  General Overview [Map of checkpoints and other information]
  In the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), nearly every facet of life is controlled by Israeli military policies. These policies not only restrict movement, but also isolate and harass the civilian population.

❷ EU  GUARANTEES  RIGHT  TO  BOYCOTT  ISRAEL 
Days of Palestine
Nov. 15, 2016
In answer to a parliamentary question on whether the EU commission will commit to defending BDS activists’ right to exercise their democratic freedom of expression, [EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica] Mogherini was clear: “The EU stands firm in protecting freedom of expression and freedom of association, including BDS actions.”
___She also noted that the European Court of Human Rights has affirmed that freedom of expression applies to ideas “that offend, shock or disturb the state or any sector of the population.”    More . . .
. . . ❷― (A) QATAR  UNIVERSITY:  STUDENT  COUNCIL  VOTES  FOR  BOYCOTT  OF  ISRAEL 
International Middle East Media Center – IMEMC 
November 18, 2016
The representative council of Qatar University students voted for the provincial movement and the refusal of normalization with the Israeli occupation, in a new victory of the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) in the Arabian Gulf.
___ . . . the council stressed the importance of the Arab role in countering normalization, boycott and divestment from Israel in order to strengthen the resistance of the Palestinians amid escalating Israeli crimes.     More . . .   
. . . ❷― (B) WAR  ON  ROGER  WATERS  DUE  TO  SUPPORTING  PALESTINE
Days of Palestine
Nov 16, 2016
Co-founder, ex-lead singer for rock music giant Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, found himself amidst fierce war after supporting pro-Palestine activists    [. . . .]
___According to Page Six, the credit card giant [AMEX] has baulked on its plans to put up $4m (£3.2m) for his 2017 solo tour in North America following his comments at Oldchella festival – an event the company sponsored – earlier this month.
___“I am going to send out all of my most heartfelt love and support to all those young people on the campuses of the universities of California who are standing up for their brothers and sisters in Palestine and supporting the BDS movement,” he said.    More . . .

❸  WHY  PALESTINIANS  ARE  UNFAZED  BY  CALLS  TO  CUT  OFF  US  AID      Al-Monitor (Palestine Pulse)
Daoud Kuttab
Nov. 17, 2016
Mustafa Barghouti, an elected Palestinian legislator, told Al-Monitor that the United States has already reduced aid to the Palestinian government. “In the past two years, we have seen a steady decline in financial support coming from Washington to the Palestinian government. . . ” US funding, which goes straight to the Palestinian government’s creditors, “has dropped from about $100 million in 2014 to roughly $75 million in 2015.”            More . . .