Intifada is an Arabic word meaning "a shaking-off." It was coined during the first Palestinian uprising in 1987, and underlines the central goal of the popular movement — a shaking-off of the chains of Israeli military occupation. The Electronic Intifada project aims to focus on just one aspect of the struggle, the war in the media for a representation of the Palestinian point of view.
In recent days, the opening page of www.electronicintifada.net has changed in a chilling way. Instead of the usual menus and directory items there is this posting instead:
"Due to disruptions of Palestine-based Web servers as a result of the Israeli invasion of Palestinian towns, you may have arrived here while trying to access a different Web site. The hard-working technical staff maintaining Web servers on the ground are dealing with shoot-to-kill curfews, no electricity thanks to Israeli military cut-offs of the power, and other severe obstacles. Until these issues are resolved some sites are temporarily redirecting their URLs here, where you can find information from a Palestinian point of view."
Net users are then offered a link to a Washington Post article about Palestine’s Web server problems or the option to enter the Electroni Intifada site.
Electronicintifada.net is an excellent resource to provide understanding on the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and to counter myth, distortion and spin from the Israeli media war machine. The site’s section on historical myths is an incredibly educational compilation of articles refuting the standard international handbook on Palestine and the occupation.
The Palestinian intifada was never about individual power. It was always about collective power. The Electronic Intifada is no different. In this time of terrible crisis in Palestine it is expected that all Palestinian focused Web sites will work together to find ways to keep reaching out to the global community.
