[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention, and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week.]
News
"US House Set to Vote on Tough Iran Sanctions Bill This Week," Timothy Gardner
Reuters reports on the House of Representatives` consideration of a bill that would cut Iran`s oil exports by one million barrels per day.
"US to Host Israeli-Palestinian Talks," Al-Jazeera English
US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority have agreed to a formal re-opening of direct negotiations.
"Syrian Rebels to Start Receiving US Weapons Amid Anxiety from Congress," Paul Lewis
Two congressional panels have approved a plan to transfer weapons to the rebels in Syria, The Guardian reports.
"Yemeni Journalist Who Reported US Drone Strike Released from Jail," Tom McCarthy
Abdulelah Haider Shaye, a Yemeni journalist imprisoned in 2010 after reporting a drone strike in Southern Yemen had been carried out by the United States, has been freed.
"US to Send Two at Guantánamo Back to Algeria, Saying Security Concerns Are Met," Charlie Savage
The Washington Post reports on the Obama Administration`s plan to return two unidentified detainees to their home country of Algeria.
"Prosecutor Portrays Pfc. Bradley Manning as Traitor During Closing Arguments," Ernesto Londoño
Londoño surveys the prosecution`s argument that Bradley Manning knowingly assisted al-Qaeda in leaking thousand of classified government documents, including diplomatic cables, to WikiLeaks.
"Protesters Rally for Egyptian People in Ramallah," Ma`an News Agency
Fatah has organized a rally in support of the militarily-backed "Egyptian people" and against the Muslim Brotherhood leadership and supporters in Egypt.
"US Military Drone Surveillance is Expanding to Hot Spots Beyond Declared Combat Zones," Craig Whitlock
Whitlock reports on the Obama Administration`s plans to draw down on lethal drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen in favor of spying-focused drone efforts in parts of Asia other than Afghanistan.
"Israel-Palestinian Peace Talks: Netanyahu Forces Through Release of 104 Prisoners," Harriet Sherwood
As part of a deal to begin preliminary negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to free 104 Palestinian prisoners.
Blogs
"On the Growing Fight Against America’s Secret Enemies," Marcy Wheeler
Wheeler, writing for her blog, discusses issues of legal doctrine surrounding the Pentagon`s recent decision to disclose the contents of a list of entities with which the United States is at war.
"Helen Thomas: Defender of Democracy," Rosemarie M. Esber
Electronic Intifada discusses Helen Thomas` career as a journalist and efforts to speak out against Operation Iraqi Freedom and Israel`s occupation of Palestinian territory.
"Al Haq: Substantial Grounds for Holding Italian Firm Pizzarotti Responsible for War Crimes," BDS Movement
Palestinian human rights organization Al Haq has argued in a recent legal opinion that the Italian company Pizzarotti`s efforts in the construction of a high-speed rail crossing in Israel amounts to war crimes under the Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Commentary
"Bagram: The Other Guantanamo," John Knefel
Knefel writes for Rolling Stone on the plight of prisoners at Afghanistan`s Bagram Airfield detention facility, all of held without trial or charge.
"More Independence for the FISA Court," The New York Times Editorial Board
The Times argues for reform of how judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court are selected amidst reports that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has appointed all of the court`s current members, with a particular slant towards right-leaning candidates.
"The New Jerusalem," Harriet Sherwood
Writing for The Observer, Sherwood writes of Israeli efforts to buy up Arab assets in Jerusalem--and of one Palestinian family`s resistance.
"Don`t Cheer These Peace Talks," Noam Sheizaf
Sheizaf criticizes the recent Israeli-Palestinian peace talks brokered by the United States, writing of Netanyahu`s historic opposition to a Palestinian State and the Palestinian Authority`s dependence on the Israeli government for survival.
Reports
"A Meta-Study of Drone Strike Casualties," Ritika Singh
Singh conducts an analysis of four major studies of drone strike casualties, concluding that Columbia Law School`s Human Rights Clinic and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism provide the "most open and flexible" method of tracking drone casualties.
Conferences
"International Law in Practice;" 23-26 September 2013; British Institute of International and Comparative Law; Register here
"2013 Doctoral Scholarship Conference: Law and Uncertainty;" 15 August 2013; Yale Law School; Register here.
On Jadaliyya
Abdullah AlBayyari ","تأملات في "العنف"
"Jadaliyya Co-Editor Noura Erakat Discusses Resumption of Peace Talks on Al Jazeera`s `The Stream`," Jadaliyya Reports
"Press Release: Governor Brown Should Not Use the Holocaust to Hide Racism," Jadaliyya Reports
"Down the Tubes: The 2013 Hunger Strike at Guantanamo Bay," Jadaliyya Reports
""Tamtheel: Restoring Popular Sovereignty" Initiative Launches," Jadaliyya Reports
"The Violence of the Impoverished: 1948 Palestinians Under Occupation," Majd Kayyal
"Conference: Self-Critique Two Decades After Oslo (5-6 October, London)," Jadaliyya Reports
"Enfranchising Refugees: PNC Elections in Comparative Context," Terry Rempel
"Navigating the Void: Palestinian Youth Resistance in the Absence of Political Leadership," Nour Joudah