Stories written by Mel Frykberg
Mel Frykberg began her journalism career reporting on unrest in black townships, including Soweto, in South Africa during the apartheid era. She later worked as a journalist in Sydney, Australia. Mel has worked as a journalist in the Middle East for over a decade. She has reported for a number of major international publications from Gaza, Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo, and Amman where she has lived. Mel also edited local magazines and newspapers in the region and is a frequent commentator on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict on National Public Radio in the United States. Frykberg studied journalism in the U.K.

MIDEAST: A Former 'Terrorist' Speaks Out

By Mel Frykberg
A former high-level Palestinian resistance fighter, who spent years on the run from Israel's security forces, has just been appointed to the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, and made honorary theatre director.

MIDEAST: West Bank a Time Bomb Waiting to Explode

By Mel Frykberg
Tension between Israel and Palestinians is rising sharply as reflected in a number of increasingly bloody and violent confrontations since Israel's devastating war in Gaza at the beginning of the year.

MIDEAST: Animal Farm Finds a Palestinian Stage

By Mel Frykberg
"Intifadah", scream the animals as they chase Jones from the farm. Strobe lights flash and loud music blares as the packed audience sits captivated, eyes trained on the stage below.

MIDEAST: Gaza Needs More Aid

By Mel Frykberg
John Ging, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, has urged Israel to ease aid flow restrictions that are having a devastating effect on the 1.5 million inhabitants.

MIDEAST: The Lines Are Getting Redrawn

By Mel Frykberg
The rival Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas, the Arab League, the EU and the new U.S. administration all appear to have found common ground against Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank.
Dima Nashashibi: "There is a lot of shame but very little societal support." Credit: Mel Frykberg/IPS

MIDEAST: Occupation and Siege Sideline Rampant Domestic Violence

By Mel Frykberg
A Palestinian woman fleeing her abusive husband in Gaza several weeks ago was stabbed to death by her enraged husband as the terrified woman sought shelter in her parents home.
Mashoor Basissy: ‘Lots still needs to be done

Q&A: 'Women Are Not Equals in Our Society'

By Mel Frykberg
As a man in a patriarchal society, an outspoken advocate of women’s rights and a harsh critic of the way Palestinian women are treated, Mashoor Basissy, MOWA’s director in the West Bank, brings a fresh male perspective to the growing problem of domestic violence against Palestinian women.

MIDEAST: Israel Under Pressure Over Divided Jerusalem

By Mel Frykberg
By late Saturday afternoon hundreds of heavily armed Israeli security forces on horseback and on foot had arrested over 20 Palestinians, assaulted a handful of people, and prevented numerous festivities from taking place.

MIDEAST: Israelis Using ‘Excessive’ Force Against Protesters

By Mel Frykberg
The critical wounding of a U.S. activist has highlighted the excessive use of force by Israeli forces.

MIDEAST: Gazans Struggle for Clean Drinking Water

By Mel Frykberg
As environmental experts, NGOs and government officials gather in Istanbul this week to attend the Fifth World Water Forum, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has drawn attention to the critical water situation in Gaza.

MIDEAST: Israel and Syria Step Closer

By Mel Frykberg
As reconciliation talks between the various Palestinian factions continue to falter, and peace between Israelis and Palestinians seems even more remote, the chance of Syria and Israel reaching an agreement remains a real possibility.

MIDEAST: Palestinian Unity as Elusive as Deal With Israel

By Mel Frykberg
Intensive unity talks are under way in Cairo as five Palestinian committees, representing 13 factions and independents, face each other across a table in a bid to form a new Palestinian unity government.
Anaya Abu Sbeh (left) and daughter-in-law Shireen Abu Sbeh await demolition of their home. Credit: Mel Frykberg

MIDEAST: Home Demolitions Threaten Peace Talks

By Mel Frykberg
Eight months pregnant Shireen Abu Sbeh, 20, mother of a two-year-old, lives with eight other people in a two-bedroom apartment that is on a list of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem to be demolished by the Israeli authorities.

MIDEAST: Israeli Settlers Terrorise Palestinian Villagers

By Mel Frykberg
"I couldn't run. My pregnancy was too far advanced and there was nowhere to hide," said Amna Salman Rabaye, 31, as she recalled the terrifying incident several months ago.

MIDEAST: Israel Boycott Movement Gains Momentum

By Mel Frykberg
"Standing United with the People of Gaza" is the theme of this week's Israel Apartheid Week (IAW), which kicked off in Toronto and another 39 cities across the globe Sunday.

MIDEAST: Rice Is Aid, Pasta Not

By Mel Frykberg
Red-faced and unusually tongue-tied Israeli officials were forced to try and explain to U.S. Senator John Kerry during his visit to Israel last week why truckloads of pasta waiting to enter the besieged Gaza strip were not considered humanitarian aid while rice was.
Israeli soldiers confronting anti-separation barrier protestors on the West Bank. Credit: Willow Heske

MIDEAST: Trapped Between the Wall and the Green Line

By Mel Frykberg
"They started smashing down doors at 2am last Wednesday before moving through homes and destroying property," says the mayor of Jayyus, Muhammed Taher Shamasni.
Ahmed Yousef Credit:

Q&A: 'Hamas Won't Give In To Blackmail' *

By Mel Frykberg
At the eleventh hour, just as a permanent ceasefire painfully mediated by the Egyptians after weeks of intensive shuttle diplomacy was about to take effect, Israel suddenly changed its preconditions for a settlement with Hamas.

MIDEAST: Israel Braces for Wave of Lawsuits

By Mel Frykberg
Israel is bracing for a wave of lawsuits accusing the Jewish state of substantial human rights violations during its 22-day military assault on Gaza which left more than 1,300 Palestinians dead and nearly 5,000 wounded, more than half of them civilian.

MIDEAST: Hamas Pushed to the Wall Over Ceasefire

By Mel Frykberg
Israel is toughening its negotiating stance with Hamas as the two try to hammer out a permanent ceasefire agreement.

MIDEAST: Extremism Dominates Israeli Polls

By Mel Frykberg
"The peace process is based on three false basic assumptions," said Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Israel's extreme right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, which will dictate the formation and political course of the next Israeli government.
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