[IMC-Palestine] [www-features] Move Cyprus Feature below Israel's feature?

[Petros Evdokas]

www-features <www-features at lists.indymedia.org>
BCC and CC to imc-israel, imc-cyprus, roblock, imc-palestine


roblock at riseup.net wrote:
> Howdy Features List,
> 
> I don't really understand why there are 2 features by Cyprus IMC on the
> the front page that are about places that are not Cyprus, which strikes me
> as a bad idea when there are local IMC's doing coverage from on the
> ground.
> 
> Is it possible to move the Israel IMC feature to the top of the site, so
> people post comments to it and update it instead of a feature by a
> collective that is not on the ground in the region?
> 
> RoB
> Houston IMC
> 

Hello,

Thanks RoB, for the question and for the proposal.

It would be best if we encourage jour Palestinian and Israeli imc
members and/or affiliates to decide this. Whatever they say would be
best at this point.

Of course, this will bring us back to the question of why isn't there an
imc-Palestine any longer (nor one in Lebanon) - these deficiencies are
directly related to imc's profound political problems.


But to answer one branch of the question:

The reason the report came from Cyprus is the same reason that the US/UK
   invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq were launched from
Cyprus; same reason that the US drones now bombing Pakistan are
controlled from Cyprus; same reason why the Suez war was launched from
Cyprus; same reason why the Israeli practice run for a bombing of Iran
took place over Cyprus this year; same reason why five consecutive
evacuations of refugees and injured people from the wars in Lebanon and
Palestine were to Cyprus.

It is also why the Free Gaza Movement launched its blockade busting
shipt to Gaza from Cyprus and also why Cyprus indymedia hosted some of
the volunteers to sleep in our homes; same reason that the United
Nations operations for the Middle East are directed from Cyprus; same
reason that the PLO has offices in Cyprus; same reason why all the major
indymedia reports from the 2006 Summer War against Lebanon came from
Cyprus; same reason why most Western journalists file their Middle East
reports from Cyprus; and why all serious peace negotiations and back
door deals related to the Middle East actually take place in Cyprus
regardless of where they are announced as having been "achieved".

Please have a look at the map.
 From the building where I'm typing this right now, Gaza is 261 miles
away (421 kms) and Jerusalem is 257 miles (414 kms).

It would be great if we could have valid and relevant reports from even
closer. But who is going to cultivate the relationships that will
produce such reports? And how?

Proximity is not the only factor, of course. For those who are involved
in politics valued qualities are long-term political relationships, a
familiarity with concepts, principles, history, geography, ethnic,
religious and cultural relationships, etc, all of which are crucial if
we are to be relevant to the global liberation movement.

I'd appreciate it if we can have more voices from the Middle East speak
on this proposal, including our colleagues in Israel.

Thanks!
Petros
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