Palestinian Intifada: How Israel orchestrated a bloody takeover

Gaza City – The second Intifada – commonly referred to by Palestinians as al-Aqsa Intifada – began after then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon sparked the uprising when he stormed al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem with more than 1,000 heavily armed police and soldiers on September 28, 2000.

The move sparked widespread outrage among Palestinians who had just marked the anniversary of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre, for which Sharon was found responsible for failing to stop the bloodshed, following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.

Hamas leader in Gaza declares intifada as deadly attacks continue

Hamas’s leader in Gaza has declared the current unrest in Jerusalem and the West Bank an intifada, as six Palestinians were shot dead protesting at the border fence, further raising the stakes after a week of escalating violence.

The comments by Ismail Haniyeh contradicted recent remarks by Fatah’s leadership, including the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. There has been increasingly widespread use of the hashtag #intifada on Palestinian social media.

Palestinian leader predicts third intifadah

The plight of Palestinians has reached a point where another intifadah, uprising, is all but inevitable, says a member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

Jamal Zahalka leads an Israeli Arab party, Balad (Nation), also known as the National Democratic Alliance. A prominent Israeli Arab who spent two years in jail, he was first elected in 2003 and re-elected thrice since. I spoke to him when he addressed a Canadian Palestinian group in Mississauga last weekend and a more mixed gathering in Toronto on Monday.

How the dream of an independent Palestine became a nightmare

HEBRON, WEST BANK—The wave of celebrations throughout the Muslim world to mark the end of Ramadan may be particularly muted among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Instead of feelings of blessings and joy, coming after a month of fasting, there seems to be a growing mood among many Palestinians of despair and squandered opportunity. Is the dream of an independent Palestine over?

There have been no meaningful talks between Israelis and Palestinians in two years; meanwhile, the “facts on the ground” march on. Earlier this month, Israel’s high court upheld a state order to demolish eight Palestinian villages in the South Hebron Hills to make way for an Israeli military “firing zone.” The eviction of 1,500 villagers takes effect in November.