This week on Crossing The Line, the drumbeats of war against Iran sound louder only this time it’s not the United States beating them.

Last week Israel conducted a long-range exercise over the Mediterranean Sea, a move that US intelligence officials say might be a prelude to striking Iran. The Bush administration has said that all options are on the table concerning Teheran's nuclear capabilities, but is Israel now one of the options? Bill Christison a former CIA intelligence officer will joins us to talk about it.

Also this week, the IOF assassinate two Palestinians in the West Bank while a tense cease-fire holds in Gaza. The Israelis have promised to ease restrictions on gas, and other goods and services coming into the region but has even a modicum of change happened in this coastal area? Palestinian journalist Rami Almeghari based in Gaza will update us on the latest events.

This week on Crossing The Line, 184 critical care patients have died waiting for travel permits from the Israeli occupation Forces to exit the Gaza Strip to receive urgent medical treatment.


Hospitals in the region are facing not only acute shortages of stretchers, bandages and gauze, but also important medicines such as cancer drugs, insulin and anesthesia. Crossing The Line correspondent and investigative journalist Nora Barrows-Friedman, on assignment in Palestine, will update us on the crisis facing hospitals in the region.


Also this week, the continued denial of rights of Palestinians goes on. The Israeli army imposed a ban on West Bank residents from traveling to the Dead Sea after Israeli's who manage the popular vacation site complained that mixed groups would be bad for business; Melanie Takefam, International Media Coordinator of The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, will join us to talk about the decision.

This week on Crossing The Line, lawmakers made their annual pilgrimage to the the annual AIPAC policy conference to show their unyielding support towards Israel. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barrack Obama claim to want change in Washington, but will this change apply to foreign policy as well? Naseer Aruri, noted author, Chancellor Professor Emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth will join us to talk about it.

Also this week, Gaza's humanitarian crisis rages on as residents of the world's most densely populated area are suffering fuel, food, water, and medical supplies, as Israel begins preparations for a full-scale invasion. Crossing The Line contributing producer and investigative journalist Nora Barrows-Friedman will update us on this ongoing plight.

And finally, a commentary by Mumia abu-Jamal about the Fall of American empire.

This week on Crossing The Line, an Israeli MP introduces a draft bill to eliminate Arabic as an official language of the Zionist state in another attempt by the Israeli government to ethnically cleanse Palestine, former PLO spokesperson Diana Buttu joins us to speak on this latest development.

Also this week, it has been more than a year since the re-displacement of Palestinian refugees from Nahr al-Bared. Many news outlets broadcast battles between militants from Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army in the camp, but what they didn't show was the aftermath of the nearly 90-day siege due to a media blackout imposed by the Lebanese government. But a group of filmmakers managed to get in and document a number of human rights violations by the army, we'll speak to one of them on this week's show.

And finally, the US State Department denied them, then granted them, we're speaking about seven Fulbright scholarships that were awarded, taken away and then re-awarded. Dr. Marcy Newman will join us to talk about the Fulbright controversy as well as the plight of other university students in Gaza who also wish to travel abroad in order to further their studies.

This week on Crossing The Line, President Bush wraps up a five day visit to the Middle East by chastising Arab leaders at the World Economic Forum and pledging a two-state solution with respect to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but with the lowest approval rating of any active US President what are the odds of this happening? Joel Beinin, Director of Middle East Studies at American University in Cairo will join us to talk more on the subject.

Also this week, more than 100 countries descend upon Dublin, Ireland for a two-week conference that will lead to banning cluster bombs, but the United States and Israel are not amongst the attendees, activist Daniel Allen will speak about their absence and the significance of this historic event.

And finally, Sen. John McCain has rejected the endorsement of the controversial right-wing minister John Hagee. But just who exactly is John Hagee; why haven't the mainstream media given his comments regarding Hitler being sent by God to drive the Jews to Israel as much scrutiny as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright issue, and what is the impact of Hagee's Christian lobby CUFI regarding the Palestinian/Israeli conflict? We'll talk with journalist Sarah Posner about these issues.