As a political publication coming from a Palestinian perspective, we have a few axes to grind -- a few political fights to pick. Once a month, we will post on this page the website that makes us hopping mad. And of course, we will take the opportunity to explain why....

Our editors welcome all comments at palreport@jmcc.org.

January's Axe http://www.ahavat-israel.com/eretz/peace.html

The website of Ahavat Israel is meant to be an online Jewish connection between faith, culture, history and land. Much of the site is not surprising: a one-sided timeline tracing Jewish history in the Holy Land; people-less photos of the Jerusalem desert mixed with photos of Jews in Israel; and religious explanations of tradition and rites.

But under the link "Making Peace," where one might expect to find the humanistic values of Judaism, or even a factual discussion of the possibilities of peace, the site's right-wing religious Zionist bent becomes irrefutable. The link is a series of unexplained Biblical references that undeniably call for transfer of all non-Jewish peoples residing in the land of Israel. The quotes are unexplained, clearly meant to make any real Jew cringe at the thought of denying God's invocations to dispel all non-Jews from this God-given inheritance. Where, one must wonder, are the Romanians meant to go?

December's Axe http://www.idf.il/english/news/main.htm

The website of the Israeli Defense Forces doesn't exactly offer a political opinion to argue with, but still, we take issue with what appears to be an attempt to put a kinder face on an institution that has gotten some bad press. The home page of the IDF is attractive, but what's inside makes us wince. The news page offers statements defending the continuing occupation of Southern Lebanon. "Statistics" offers IDF numbers on how many soldiers have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank since the signing of peace agreements with Palestinians (52) and counts the numbers of Molotov cocktails thrown (2499). The IDF principles are spelled out, including that "Israel cannot afford to lose a single war" and that its officers must be committed to fighting terrorism (seems like they forgot that the roots of the IDF reach to the Jerusalem bombing of the King David Hotel).

Perhaps the most interesting part of the home page is the description of the ironically named "Operation Gift" in which the IDF blew up 14 Arab planes in a Beirut airport in 1968. The author of the description openly admits that the plan was initially crafted to highjack a flight. Certainly the word "terrorism" is used loosely here. Looking at the flashy IDF site from this side of the green line makes us just more than a little uncomfortable.

November's Axe http://www.freeman.org/m_online/may99/winston2.htm

When European and American forces combined to intervene in Kosovo, Palestinians were struck by the double standard - Serbian President Molosovich was only doing what Israel had done for years without impunity. Even some supporters of Israel caught the similarities.

At this site, Emanuel Winston outlines what he believes is the Palestinian attack strategy now that the Authority has accumulated forces inside the West Bank. He says that Palestinians will attack defenseless "yeshivim" (settlements) goaded on by the leftist Israeli and American plan to rid the area of Jewish settlements. "One is reminded of the desperate imbalance of forces in 1948 where the Arabs overran Israeli settlements," writes Winston (never mind the historical inaccuracy).

Finally, he believes that the Israeli army will have to retaliate, giving the United Nations the reason it has been waiting for all these years to attack Israel and force it to concede all territories and their resources. After all Kosovo has created a precedent. Winston describes the international press as "ever-hostile" to Israeli interests, which just makes you wonder who is on his side.

October's Axe: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/7748/boycott.html

Much to the chagrin of right-wing Israelis, Arab-Americans and those who support them have demonstrated some muscle in organizing boycotts against large companies doing business in West Bank and Gaza settlements. "Fight the Boycott!" exhorts this site as it lists a whole host of companies and their settlement locations.

While that list certainly wasn't meant for pro-Palestinian use, it can come in handy for those wishing to cut down on their intake of internationally-illegal settlement goods (and hopefully, decrease the accompanying output of industrial waste into nearby Palestinian villagers).

September's Axe: www.gamla.org.il/english/index.htm

The website of "Gamla Shall Not Fall Again" is a study in Israeli right-wing ideology. Gamla is a historic site in the Golan where legend says that Jewish fighters fought off the Romans until committing suicide - much like battle of Masada near Jerusalem. It is also the place where Israeli Golan settlers promote their cause via a panamoranic movie of the area.

On this website, the organization uses familiar jargon - fear for Israel's safety and doubt for Palestinian sincerity. The most useful feature is the accompanying map of the proposed final settlement between Israelis and Palestinians; the legend of masked bandits and missiles helps one see momentarily through right-wing Israeli eyes. One is reminded that the language of fear makes no room for compromise.

August's Axe: www.embraceisrael.org/index.html

Pastor Reuven Doron is an Israeli-born Jew who converted to Christianity, lives in Jerusalem and preaches to other Israelis. His ministry, "Embrace Israel," promotes the kind of theology that Palestinians have become accustomed to -- unequivocal political support for Israel based on certain Biblical texts.

What sets Doron apart, however, is his editorial assertion that Israel would be doing Palestinians a favor by annexing the West Bank and including them in the enlightened Israeli democracy, along with Israeli Arabs. Such generosity would save Palestinians from the Palestinian Authority "mafia," fulfill God's will and solve the political problem. Israelis just have to open their hearts to God and allow Christ to take care of the demographic problem. Don't miss the readers' comments below the editorial!