Israel

Lebanon Reporting

‘They Hit Everyone and Anyone’: From Lebanon, residents share what life has been like since Israel launched its attack.

October 2, 2024 by Alex Shams

Originally published on Oct 2, 2024 in New York Magazine. As told to Alex Shams. On September 17, Israel launched a military assault in Lebanon. It began with attacks that

Iran Reporting

They Risked Their Lives for Freedom in Iran. Now They Fear Israel’s Bombs.

April 29, 2024 by Alex Shams

Originally published on Truthout on April 29, 2024. Having survived waves of domestic repression, protesters in Iran are now in the crosshairs of Israeli bombs. In fall 2022, they were

Israel Opinion Palestine

Israel Needs a Plan in Gaza. Don’t Look to the West Bank for Ideas

November 22, 2023 by Alex Shams

Originally published in Newsweek on Nov. 20, 2023. One of Elias Deis’ first childhood memories is running from soldiers opening fire on his neighbors. It was 1989. The First Intifada

Arab World Palestine Reporting

‘They Don’t Want People to Know We Exist’: Palestinians across the West Bank describe what life has been like since October 7

November 10, 2023 by Alex Shams

Originally published in New York Magazine on Nov. 10, 2023. Over the last month, Israel launched an assault across the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, in

Israel Opinion

‘Broad City’ Didn’t Just Go on Birthright — It Spent 21 Minutes Mocking It

April 18, 2016 by Alex Shams

Originally published on The Forward on April 28, 2016. Written by Alex Shams. When Ilana and Abby from “Broad City” announced last week that they were going on Birthright Israel,

Opinion

Killing of Mentally Ill Palestinian Swimming Off Gaza Coast Highlights Maddening Effects of Israel’s Siege

December 28, 2015 by Alex Shams

Originally published on Huffington Post. In the video, a naked young man slowly swims in the ocean, wading his way bit by bit through the waves to reach the other

Opinion Palestine

This Christmas, Remember the Embattled Little Palestinian Town of Bethlehem

December 24, 2015 by Alex Shams

Originally published in the Huffington Post. This week, more than 1.5 billion Christians around the world will celebrate the Christmas message of hope. But in the little hilltop town where

Palestine Reporting

En Palestine, les chrétiens syriaques gardent espoir malgré la peur de Daech

December 24, 2015 by Alex Shams

Les syriaques de la vieille ville de Jérusalem ont été systématiquement expulsés par Israël depuis 1967, mais la communauté possède encore une forte identité

Palestine Reporting

Why do Palestinians burn Jewish holy sites?: The fraught history of Joseph’s Tomb

November 12, 2015 by Alex Shams

Originally published in Mondoweiss. Joseph’s Tomb (Photo: Alex Shams)  On October 16th, a large crowd of Palestinians near the northern West Bank city of Nablus surrounded the religious site

Opinion

Obama Defied GOP to Make Peace with Iran — Now It’s Time for Palestine

November 11, 2015 by Alex Shams

Originally published in Huffington Post. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vindictive policies are creating a climate in which Palestinians are once again rising up to reject their lack of freedom