His Name Was Ahed Zaqout: Former Palestinian Soccer Star Killed in Gaza

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Written by Dave Zirin Dave Zirin

Published: 26 August 2014 26 August 2014

All it took was a recording of Donald Sterling insulting Magic Johnson in a derogatory manner for the twenty-four-hour news world to stop on its axis. Now imagine if Donald Sterling—in all of his paranoid, racist fervor—had an army at his disposal and bombed Magic Johnson in his home, killing him in his sleep.

If such a scenario sounds like hacky Phillip K. Dick fan fiction as written by Mike Lupica, then you have not been paying attention to the dystopian, genocidal panorama in Gaza, where no one is safe. You are unfamiliar with the name Ahed Zaqout.

Ahed Zaqout was a 49-year-old sportscaster and television host in Gaza, a national sports voice for a people without a nation. Two decades ago, he was a soccer star: the midfielder for the Palestinian national soccer team. On Wednesday, he was killed in his bed by the bombs of the Israeli Defense Forces.

As Gaza sports journalist Khaled Zaher told Reuters, “Palestine has lost one of its best players, he may have been the best midfielder we ever had.”

Why the IDF was “defending” itself against Zaqout is a mystery. He was no Muhammad Ali, using sports to advance any kind of political cause. He was that most conventional and familiar of person in sports: the ex-star jock turned broadcaster. But in Gaza, what we may see as conventional can become political. Zaqout was someone whose voice, sharp wit, and trenchant analysis was a source of joy and escape for a people under constant siege. Providing escape to the trapped of Gaza was in and of itself a political act.

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Haaretz: BDS activists occupy security company offices in Portland

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Written by Haaretz Haaretz

Published: 22 August 2014 22 August 2014

G4S protest

Protesters try to shut down G4S, which announced in June that it would pull out of Israeli prison system, for a day.


A group of pro-Palestinian activists briefly occupied the Portland, Oregon offices of global security company G4S on Thursday, to protest its affiliation with the Israeli prison system.

U.K.-based G4S, the world's largest security company in terms of revenue, has operations in some 125 countries, including 11 Arab states. Members of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in Portland targeted G4S because it holds contracts to "provide equipment and services to Israeli prisons at which Palestinian political prisoners, including child prisoners, are detained and mistreated." They also cited G4S for providing "equipment and services to checkpoints, illegal settlements and businesses within these settlements."

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Gaza counts cost of war as more than 360 factories destroyed or damaged

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Written by Harriet Sherwood in Gaza Harriet Sherwood in Gaza

Published: 22 August 2014 22 August 2014

Thousands of acres of farmland and cattle also wiped out with damage estimated at three times that of 2008-9 conflict

[Photo]
Mohammed Al Tebani inside his factory in Gaza, which made ice cream among other sweets, and was destroyed by targeted shelling. Photograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian

Gaza's economy will take years to recover from the devastating impact of the war, in which more than 360 factories have been destroyed or badly damaged and thousands of acres of farmland ruined by tanks, shelling and air strikes, according to analysts.

Israeli air strikes on Gaza have resumed since a temporary ceasefire brokedown on Tuesday after rockets were fired from Gaza. The Israeli Defence Force said it launched air strikes on 20 sites on Friday morning and Gaza health officials said two Palestinians were killed in an attack on a farm.

Almost 10% of Gaza's factories have been put out of action, said the Palestinian Federation of Industries. Most other industrial plants have halted production during the conflict, causing losses estimated at more than $70m (£42m), said the union of Palestinian industries. The UN's food and agriculture organisation (FAO) said about 42,000 acres of croplands had sustained substantial direct damage and half of Gaza's poultry stock has been lost due to direct hits or lack of care as access to farmlands along the border with Israel became impossible.

More than 9% of the annual fishing catch was lost between 9 July and 10 August, it added.

"The initial indications are that economic damage caused by the war is three times that of the 2008-9 conflict," said Gaza-based economist Omar Shaban, referring to the Israeli military operation, codenamed Cast Lead. "It's huge."

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Oppose the Gaza Massacre! Protest Dinner & Movie with Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Jeff Merkley

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Written by AUPHR AUPHR

Published: 22 August 2014 22 August 2014

Why have dinner and a movie with Cory Booker and Jeff Merkley for $1000 when you can protest their support for the Gaza Massacre outside for free!

We call on Oregonians of conscience to come out in protest of the continuing support for the siege and massacre of Gaza by United States Senators.  We have an opportunity to confront both Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (and doubtless other key Oregon Democrats) for their vigorous support of Israel's current campaign of serial war crimes.

They say their event is about standing up to special interests! Well, that is why WE will protest them!

Protesters will begin gathering at 4:30pm in time for the 5:10pm $500/plate dinner and continue until the movie at 6:30pm.

Protest will start at:  Ya Hala at 8005 SE Stark St, Portland

Protest will continue at: Academy Theatre, 7818 SE Stark St, Portland

Perhaps Merkley and Booker will see us as dessert before the movie!

Sponsored by: Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (AUPHR), Jewish Voice for Peace - Portland (JVP), Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights (SUPER)

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/ical/event.php?eid=272453246283461

Read more: Oppose the Gaza Massacre! Protest Dinner & Movie with Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Jeff Merkley