Abu Yussif is a pharmacist. But the massive discrimination against Palestinians in the Lebanese labor market has forced him to give up his profession and work as a taxi driver.

Despite their residence in Lebanon, the approximately 250,000 Palestinian refugees are treated sometimes worse than foreigners. Access to jobs is restricted in various ways. Some professions are forbidden, many others require a work permit. In addition, approximately 30 liberal professions are controlled by syndicates. Further, Palestinians can’t run their own shops or companies, as they’re not allowed to own property.

Palestinian refugees and their descendants have been living in Lebanon for 62 years. Unlike their relatives in Jordan or Syria, they face massive legal discrimination. Lebanon is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, but it has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and embodies the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its constitution.

Professional syndicates in Lebanon systematically deny Palestinians access. Sari Hanafi, associate professor at the American University of Beirut, explains: “Some of them have bylaws that restrict membership to Lebanese citizens. Others apply a reciprocity clause. However, the absence of a recognized Palestinian state makes the application of this principle impossible.”

In mid-August, the Lebanese parliament amended the Labor Law. It hasn’t touched the powerful position of the syndicates, however. Suhail al-Natour says that in theory the law is supposed to be above the syndicates’ rules. “Practically, however, the syndicates rule.”

Title: Despite law “reform,” Palestinians out of work in Lebanon
Author: Ray Smith
Publication Source: The Electronic Intifada,  22 November 2010
URL: HYPERLINK “http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11637.shtml”http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11637.shtml

Faculty Evaluator: Jeff Baldwin, Sonoma State University
Student Researcher: Accacia Downer, Sonoma State University

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The source, who has worked on covert US military programs for years, including in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has direct knowledge of Blackwater’s involvement. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the program is classified. The source said that the program is so “compartmentalized” that senior figures within the Obama administration and the US military chain of command may not be aware of its existence.

Blackwater’s founder Erik Prince in a recent interview with Vanity Fair that claimed that Blackwater works with US Special Forces in identifying targets and planning missions.  citing an operation in Syria..

The previously unreported program puts Blackwater at the epicenter of a US military operation within the borders of a nation against which the United States has not declared war. Officially, the United States is not supposed to have any active military operations in the country.

Blackwater is also working for the Pakistani government on a subcontract with an Islamabad-based security firm that puts US Blackwater operatives on the ground with Pakistani forces in counter-terrorism operations.. This arrangement allows the Pakistani government to utilize former US Special Operations forces who now work for Blackwater, while denying an official US military presence in the country.

Title: The Secret US War in Pakistan

Source: The Nation, November 23, 2009

URL: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091207/scahill

Author: Jeremy Scahill

faculty Evaluator: Peter Phillips

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In the process of “killing” this terrorist, U.S. killed 7 people within the farm walls. They killed a father, his four sons, including a teenage boy, the father’s visiting friend, and the night watchman.  The U.S. troops also severely wounded the night watches wife; she and her six-year-old son along with a man Hamid, were the only survivors.  As witnesses of this event say that there was no one was shooting back at the U.S. Soldiers because they had no weapons to fire back.

It became suspicious when there were no reports of Al-Qaeda terrorists, or Abu Ghadiya, death. These people were brutally shot, 10 or more bullets to each body, and there is no body or official report that this terrorist was killed. There also was no official announcement about the raid.  Al-Qaeda in Iraq, in August of 2006, announced the death of Ghadiya. One Syrian official says that the U.S. never showed him any proof that Ghadiya was alive after 2006.

Title: The Murders at al-Sukariya

Source: Vanity Fair October 27, 2008

URL:  http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/10/al-sukariya-200910

Author: Reese Erlich and Peter Coyote

Student Researcher: Trinity Cambon

Faculty Advisor:  Keith Gouveia

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