History

By William R. Polk The General Assembly had issued its verdict [in late 1947 suggesting a partition of Palestine] but it left open the question of how to actually carry out the resolution when no UN-controlled military or police forces were available. Britain’s 84,000 troops were leaving. And they had proved insufficient to maintain law […]

Colonialism

History and Betrayal: UNSCOP and Palestine, 1947

contributors

By William Polk The British Foreign Secretary told Parliament on February 18, 1947 that “there is no prospect of resolving this conflict by any settlement negotiated between the parties.” Further, he said, according to the League of Nations mandate, the legal basis for Britain’s rule over Palestine, Britain did not have the authority to partition […]

Central Intelligence Agency

How America made Martyrs of two Iranian Democrats and overthrew Iran’s Liberal Government in 1953

contributors

By Farhad Malekafzali August 19 is the anniversary of the 1953 CIA-MI6 coup in Iran. The coup overthrew a government with a remarkable commitment to the norms of liberal democracy. The fate of Premier Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh has rightfully received a good deal of scholarly and journalistic attention. He was tried for treason, imprisoned for […]

Colonialism

Gaza and the Palestine Crisis in History: World War II

contributors

By William R. Polk At the outbreak of World War II, both Palestinians and Zionists enlisted in large numbers — 21,000 Jews and 8,000 Palestinians — to help the British in their hour of need. But both kept their long term objectives firmly in mind: both continued to regard British imperialism as the long-term enemy […]

Colonialism

Gaza and the struggle for Palestine: the 1930s

contributors

By William R. Polk Annoyed but not deterred, the British Colonial Office decided in the 1930s, as it was then also doing in India, to crack down hard on the “troublemakers.” It put Palestine under martial law and brought in 20,000 regular soldiers to be quartered on rebel villages, blew up houses of suspected insurgents […]

History

Gaza and the Struggle for Palestine: Historical Background (Pt. 1, a)

contributors

By William R. Polk Like many observers I am both sick at heart and emotionally drained from watching and reading about the horrible events in Gaza. Is there more to be said about them? Yes, I think there is if we hope to achieve a degree of security and peace. So, at the risk of […]

Apartheid

The Battered People of Gaza: “We’re not Abandoning the Resistance & No Peace until the Blockade is Lifted”

contributors

Paul Mason, Channel 4 News (Gaza City) “In the destroyed suburb of Zeitoun in Gaza City Paul Mason finds local support for Hamas still strong.” They look you in the eye and say we are not giving up our support for the Resistance (Hamas) and there will be no peace until the Israeli siege on […]

Colonialism

Where is Palestine?

contributors

AJ+ You can’t find it on a map. But millions call it home. Where is Palestine? It’s complicated. But give us a little over 90 seconds, and we’ll give you the gist. AJ+ Labs: Where Is Palestine?

Apartheid

Health Catastrophe in Gaza after Israel bombs water infrastructure

contributors

By: Ahmed Hadi Gaza – Bassem Siam carried two plastic gallons as he left his home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northern Gaza, ignoring the intense bombardment and the continued Israeli military flights. He went to his neighbors who happen to have a small supply of drinking water to get a sip of water […]