If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for reading!

Geia sas from Greece! Sorry for not alerting you earlier, but I am in Greece with Ilektra until May 6. Consequently, I will not have time to post, though I will still be monitoring comments… The Guillermo Habacuc Vargas post is still going crazy.

Please remember to read our comments policy before taking the time to write a response. I have no qualms about deleting vulgar, aggressive or otherwise inane comments. And while I’m vacationing in Greece, I am in no mood to accept comments that insult me personally. I have been running this blog a long time and moronic insults no longer phaze me…

Yes, that’s right… My MYSQL database was recently switched from Linux to Windows, at which point harmonicminor.com ceased functioning. After several weeks of aimlessly messing around with it, in the end I was told that Wordpress does not work on Windows servers.

So, we moved back to Linux and that was that. Everything should be fine again. Sorry for the hassle, but stayed tuned.

Tags: Wordpress, Windows, Linux, PHP, MYSQL, Database, Blog, Website, Files, Computer, Kris Petersen, harmonicminor, neonmeatte

Raji Sourani of the Palestinian Center For Human Rights (my boss) joined with Al-Dameer, Al-Mezan and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens Rights this morning in condemning Hamas’ recent action in seizing control of Gaza’s impartial court system. The move is extraordinarily bold and could provoke a serious response from Hamas. So far, Hamas representatives are expected to hold an impromptu press conference this afternoon.

The following is the entire press release announced by Raji Sourani and the other Gazan organizations.

Press Release

Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Takeover of the Civilian Courts Compound

The undersigned Palestinian human rights organizations condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the civilian court compound in the Gaza Strip, and the break-in by members of the so-called “Higher Justice Council” formed by the dismissed government into the office of the President of the Higher Judicial Council and President of the High Court. These attacks and actions are illegal and contradict the Basic Law of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Human rights organizations call upon the dismissed government to immediately rescind the illegal decision to takeover the civilian judicial system in the Gaza Strip. These organizations hold this government fully responsible for undermining and destroying the Judicial Authority in order to establish illegal judicial bodies that are not independent. (more…)

The Gaza Strip: Disengagement Two Years On
Electonic Intifada. November 24, 2007.

Two years ago, Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. We all remember the intense media campaign shamelessly portraying the settlers as dispossessed victims of a bold move for peace. Among others, Harvard economist Sara Roy argued that Israel’s version of disengagement would bring disaster to an already desperate Gaza. Today, we are witnessing emergence of an unparalleled economic catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and with it, the evaporation of the last remaining hopes for a Palestinian state. (more…)

“Welcome To Gaza!”
Palestine Chronicle. October 31, 2007.

Khalil laughs and shakes head as we dine along the seaside terrace of Gaza’s luxurious al-Deira Hotel.

“This is not Gaza,” he says, dismissively gesturing towards the hotel’s maroon exterior and the tables of dining European journalists. “The real Gaza is just down the street, where 1,000 people are living on a single street block.” He chuckles ironically and slaps me on the back.

“And here, we can’t even drink a whiskey to drown our sorrows!” (more…)