Sydney Levy's blog

Despite a long history of complicity in human rights abuses and violations of international law, Caterpillar Inc. has been selected to receive the National Building Museum’s Henry C. Turner Prize for Innovation in Construction Technology.  This prize, to be awarded



From Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009:

At its annual shareholder meeting, the Caterpillar Board of Directors
was confronted once again with shareholders and activists upset about
the use of Caterpillar bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes.

Read more.

On June 5^th, the 44^th anniversary of the Israeli Occupation, unarmed Palestinians on the border between Syria and the Israeli Occupied Golan Heights and at Qualandiya checkpoint outside Ramallah gathered in unarmed protest. Up to 25 people were killed by the Israeli military in the former, and scores wounded in the latter.

JVP’s response is the same as it was on Nakba Day three weeks ago:

On May 15th, massive nonviolent protests within and around Israel/Palestine marked a historic day in the Palestinian struggle for human rights and full equality. Matching the spirit and emboldened by the success of other Arab Spring revolts, thousands of unarmed Palestinians demonstrated inside the Occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza while, at the same time, thousands of Palestinian refugees peacefully marched to Israel's borders from refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria.

Joel Beinin
May 11, 2011

Is the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement signed in Cairo on May 4 good for the “peace process?”  Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, President Jimmy Carter, and veteran Israeli peace activist Uri Avnery all believe it is.  Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his government vehemently insist that it is not.  Half the Democrats in the Senate and the usual suspects in the House of Representatives have, as is their custom, lined up behind the Israeli government’s position, while the White House has been more reserved.  Since the “peace process” has long been on life-support, if not dead, this may be the wrong question.  We might ask instead, “Is reconciliation between the Palestinian political factions good for the Palestinian and Israeli people?”

Urge President Obama to support the UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Read more.

Imagine being expelled from your city--the city where you were born, the city where you grew up, the city where you started a family and where you are raising your four children, the city where you have always lived.

Read more and take action!

Imagine being expelled from your city--the city where you were born, the city where you grew up, the city where you started a family and where you are raising your four children, the city where you have always lived.

Read more and take action!

Here's what we are hearing from people in different cities across the country.