A non-partisan journal of the left.

About Ramzy Baroud

Ramzy Baroud is a Palestinian-American journalist, author, editor and former Al-Jazeera producer, Ramzy Baroud taught Mass Communication at Australia's Curtin University of Technology, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine Chronicle.

Renowned American scholar, Noam Chomsky said of his work:

"Ramzy Baroud's sensitive, thoughtful, searching writing penetrates to the core of moral dilemmas that their intended audiences evade at their peril. Few are spared his perceptive eye, and only the morally callous will fail to respond to his pleas to look into the mirror honestly, to question comforting beliefs that protect us from facing our elementary responsibilities, and to act to remedy the terrible misery and injustice that he exposes to our view, as we surely can."

Baroud's work has been published in hundreds of newspapers and journals worldwide, including The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Seattle Times, Arab News, The Miami Herald, The Japan Times, Al-Ahram Weekly, Asia Times and nearly every English language publication throughout the Middle East. His work is regularly translated and republished in French, Spanish, Arabic and other languages. He has contributed to and was cited and referenced in hundreds of books.

He has been a guest on many television and radio programs including CNN International, BBC, ABC Australia, National Public Radio, Press TV, Al-Jazeera and many other stations.

His book Searching Jenin: Eyewitness Accounts of the Israeli Invasion (Cune Press, Seattle, 2003) has received international recognition.

His book, The Second Palestinian Intifada: A Chronicle of a People’s Struggle (Pluto Press, London, 2006) has won the praise of many scholars world-wide, such as Dr. Hanan Ashrawi who stated, “His volume presents a compelling narrative of Palestinian victimization without being defensive or apologetic, and with no attempt at disguising or denying internal weaknesses and shortcomings.” Professor Norman Finkelstein praised the work, saying, “In this curious blend of passionately subjective yet dispassionately objective journalism, Ramzy Baroud chronicles the unfolding of the second Intifada in masterful prose.”

Baroud’s third book, My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story (Pluto Press, London, 2010 - Distributed jointly with Palgrave Macmillan), narrates the story of the life of his family, (his family is used as a representation of millions of Palestinians in Diaspora) starting in the early 1940’s until the present time. The book was translated and published in several languages shortly after the successful release of the English edition.

Richard Falk, Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University and Special Rapporteur for Occupied Palestinian Territories, UN Human Right Council wrote about Ramzy's Gaza book:

"Ramzy Baroud has written a deeply moving chronicle of the persisting Palestinian ordeal that manages to interweave and bring to life the heart-wrenching experience of his family, particularly the heroics of his father, with the daily cruelties of the prolonged Israeli occupation of Gaza, the frequent horrors of refugee existence, and the disillusioning futility of seeking an end to a bloody conflict that goes on and on. This book more than any I have read tells me why anyone of conscience must stand in solidarity with the continuing struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination and a just peace."

Ramzy Baroud has been a guest speaker at many top universities around the world, including George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Rutgers University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Manchester, University of Ireland, University of Washington, Penn State University and the University of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa. He has also been a guest speaker at the House of Commons in London.

Baroud has spoken and conducted book tours in over twenty countries.

Articles Written

BDS: Power of the People at Work

by Ramzy Baroud

Sat 18th Feb 2012
The recent University of Pennsylvania BDS conference, organized by student group, PennBDS, was the latest example to illustrate both the effectiveness of the global movement and also of the real worry felt by supporters of Israel in the US, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Israel Vying for War: Attacking Iran Will Not Repeat History

by Ramzy Baroud

Thu 9th Feb 2012
One would think that the years between 1991 – the first war on Iraq - and 2003 would have been enough to convince US-led Western allies that economically besieged, politically isolated and war torn Iraq had no capacity for producing WMDs, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Anti-Semitism and Israel’s Inherent Contradictions

by Ramzy Baroud

Thu 2nd Feb 2012
In a recent article, columnist Yaniv Halili described British author Ben White as 'anti-Semitic'. He also denounced Arab Knesset member Hanin Zoabi for writing a forward to White's latest book, Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy, writes Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]
 

The Struggle Continues: US vs. Genuine Reforms at the United Nations

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 27th Jan 2012
The country that has long been known to abuse its powers and privileges in the United Nations is now leading a campaign to reform the same organization, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Waiting for False Prophets: The Puzzling Matter of the Israeli Liberals

by Ramzy Baroud

Thu 19th Jan 2012
Regardless of who may rule Israel, little change ever occurs in the country’s foreign policy, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Palestine: Those Who Inspired Us in 2011

by Ramzy Baroud

Wed 28th Dec 2011
2011 had its share of tragedy. Human lives were lost in Palestine. But hope was also sustained by the sacrifices of numerous ‘ordinary’ people, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

Embellishing the Iraq War: Moral Victory, and Selective Body Counts

by Ramzy Baroud

Mon 26th Dec 2011
Someone ought to let mainstream news producers know that the nearly 4,500 US soldiers killed in the Iraq war were not the only victims. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have also been killed as a result of the US invasion, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Masked in Gaza: The Untold History of Palestinian ‘Militancy’

by Ramzy Baroud

Sun 18th Dec 2011
It really doesn’t take much to kill a ‘militant’ in Gaza, argues Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

On Freedom and Imperialism: Arab Spring and the Intellectual Divide

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 2nd Dec 2011
The so-called ‘Arab Spring’ is creating an intellectual divide that threatens any sensible understanding of the turmoil engulfing several Arab countries, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

'Zero-Problems' Foreign Policy No More: Turkey and the Syrian 'Abyss'

by Ramzy Baroud

Mon 28th Nov 2011
Ramzy Baroud notes the U-turn in Turkey's foreign policy towards its neighbour Syria.... [read more]

Gaza Boats Seized, but ‘Freedom Waves’ Will Continue

by Ramzy Baroud

Sat 12th Nov 2011
Despite the Israeli government’s continued aggression towards humanitarian aid ships sailing to Gaza, Ramzy Baroud shows how the aid flotillas show no sign of giving in to intimidation. ... [read more]

Welcome to Gaza: Revolution and Change at the Rafah Border

by Ramzy Baroud

Sun 5th Jun 2011
Ramzy Baroud on how the new Egyptian government is signifying a welcome change to the border with Gaza.... [read more]
 

Tunisia: How We Got Here and the Task Ahead

by Ramzy Baroud

Sat 29th Jan 2011
Ramzy Baroud reflects on the causes of the popular uprising and where we go from here.... [read more]

Whitewashing Defeat

by Ramzy Baroud

Mon 27th Dec 2010
For all his poise and rhetoric, Obama’s indecisiveness is the defining feature of his presidency, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Stating the Obvious: WikiLeaks Indicts and Vindicates US Diplomats

by Ramzy Baroud

Sun 12th Dec 2010
The Wikileaks disclosures have smashed the US government's edifice of rhetoric and lies about Iraq, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

Another Baghdad Massacre: Iraqi Christians Are Already at Home

by Ramzy Baroud

Sat 13th Nov 2010
Media rhetoric over the struggles of Iraqi Christians represents classic 'divide and rule' imperialism, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Such is the Peace Process: Obama as a Salesman

by Ramzy Baroud

Sat 30th Oct 2010
Ramzy Baroud reflects on the mood of pessimism emanating from the latest round of peace talks in the Middle East.... [read more]

‘Dying to Win’: Newt Gingrich’s ‘Terrorism’

by Ramzy Baroud

Tue 12th Oct 2010
Bush may be gone, but right-wingers in the US are still exploiting public fears of terrorism to pursue their foreign policy agenda, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]
 

Regarding US Muslims: A Misguided Debate

by Ramzy Baroud

Tue 21st Sep 2010
Ramzy Baroud on why there is a blinkered and one-sided view of what causes Islamaphobia in America and how best to tackle it.... [read more]

Behind the Israeli Wall: A Lesson in Reality

by Ramzy Baroud

Wed 8th Sep 2010
Rich Whiles' timely new book takes a refreshingly honest look at the experiences of the victims of Israeli apartheid, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Rebranding Iraq: Playing with Numbers and Human Lives

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 27th Aug 2010
As the US troop withdrawal begins in earnest, Ramzy Baroud asks: who won? And is the war really over?... [read more]
 

Smoke on a Bridge: Lebanon Awaits a Verdict

by Ramzy Baroud

Mon 9th Aug 2010
Ramzy Baroud reports from Lebanon on the thoughts of one of its citizens on the future of the country.... [read more]

The Palestinian Authority: Redundant but Dangerous Language

by Ramzy Baroud

Sun 25th Jul 2010
Ramzy Baroud takes a critical look at the language used by Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in their pronouncements on possible talks with Israel.... [read more]

Beyond Violence and Non-Violence: Resistance as a Culture

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 16th Jul 2010
Political resistance is not simply gratuitous violence - is a collective response to oppression, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

Cluster Bombs and Civilian Lives: Efficient Killing, Profits and Human Rights

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 9th Jul 2010
An Amnesty International report has brought the issue of cluster bombs back into the public limelight, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Millennium Goals Revisited: Noble Ideas, and Feel-Good Moments

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 2nd Jul 2010
The UN's much-vaunted Millenium Development goals have turned out to be little more than wishful thinking, writes Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]

Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon: Righting a Perpetual Wrong

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 25th Jun 2010
Like Palestinian refugees elsewhere, Lebanon's Palestinian exiles are treated as second class citizens, writes Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]
 

The Middle East is Changing, and Ankara Knows It

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 18th Jun 2010
Ramzy Baroud reflects on the Turkish response to Israel's murderous assault on an aid flotilla two weeks ago.... [read more]

Facebook and Muslim Outrage: Gleaning the Wrong Lesson, Again

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 11th Jun 2010
Ramzy Baroud bemoans yet another controversy about Muslim intolerance towards 'blasphemous' artistic output.... [read more]

‘The Internet is a Game Changer’

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 28th May 2010
With news coverage gradually moving towards a 'paperless world' in the internet age, Ramzy Baroud considers the implications for political journalism.... [read more]
 

Karzai’s Washington Visit: The War Awaiting Kandahar

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 21st May 2010
Ramzy Baroud on who's really behind the puppet regime in Afghanistan.... [read more]

Yemen’s Options: ‘Revolt, Migrate or Die’

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 14th May 2010
Yemen is emerging as the latest casualty of the so-called 'War on Terror', as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

Dispatch from China: Number 15 Has Left the Building

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 23rd Apr 2010
The fight against climate change presents a peculiar set of challenges for media oulets balancing corporate business models with the urgent need for critical debate, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]
 

The Lobby vs. America: On Netanyahu’s Lies and the Spineless Politicians

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 2nd Apr 2010
In the wake of Benjamin Netanyahu's AIPAC speech, Ramzy Baroud picks apart the Israeli PM's poisonous rhetoric.... [read more]

My Children, Ralph Nader and the South China Sea

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 26th Mar 2010
Ramzy Baroud reflects on the determined and seemingly innate compassion of children, which gives cause for hope and optimism.... [read more]

Activism is Change, Not academic Squabbles and Bickering

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 19th Mar 2010
Ramzy Baroud calls for a greater sense of community among Western-based supporters of the Palestinian cause.... [read more]
 

An Alternative Reading of the Al-Mabhouh Murder

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 12th Mar 2010
The assassination of Palestinian activist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was a well-planned, violent and sadistic act of international terrorism, writes Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]

Flexible Afghanistan War Objectives: And the Agony Grinds On

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 5th Mar 2010
As the war in Afghanistan grinds on with no end in sight, Ramzy Baroud pours scorn on the various attempts to rationalise and justify this disastrous campaign.... [read more]

Western Media, Not Israeli Hasbara

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 26th Feb 2010
Despite the best efforts of the mainstream media to play down the barbaric assault on Gaza, Israel cannot win the public relations war, argues Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

The Useless Logic of Round Numbers

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 19th Feb 2010
The media fixation with pointless symbolic milestones serves to trivialise the everyday misery of victims of US violence, argues Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]

From Gaza to Lebanon: Beware the Iron Wall, the Coming War

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 5th Feb 2010
Israeli military strategists are planning for a new offensive against Lebanon, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

Iran, Israel and Latin America: The Media States Its Case

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 22nd Jan 2010
Ramzy Baroud scrutinises the mainstream media consensus on the designated enemies of the US.... [read more]
 

An Odyssey for Justice

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 15th Jan 2010
Ramzy Baroud celebrates the spirit of international solidarity that has provided crucial practical and moral support for the Palestinian struggle in recent years.... [read more]

Media Vultures Are Coming: Freedom of Expression at Risk

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 8th Jan 2010
The increasing concentration of ownership of media outlets into relatively few hands presents a serious threat to democratic freedom of expression, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Muslims Must Not Pay Price for Europe’s Identity Crisis

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 25th Dec 2009
Ramzy Baroud condemns the scapegoating of Muslims by European politicians who are unwilling to address their countries' most pressing social problems.... [read more]
 

The Lobby Within

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 18th Dec 2009
A just and peaceful solution to the protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict will only be possible when the US ceases to block every move made towards it, argues Ramzy Baroud. ... [read more]

The Hypocrisy of Al-Demoqratia

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 11th Dec 2009
A rising tide of official anti-Muslim paranoia in continental Europe is exposing the hypocrisy of Western democracy, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

A Paradigm Shift in Singapore: Yet Apec Offers No Clear Answers

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 27th Nov 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the high-profile international summit held in Singapore this week.... [read more]
 

Globalization Unchecked: How Alien Media is Suffocating Culture

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 20th Nov 2009
Ramzy Baroud considers the cultural impact of global economic integration in 'third world' societies. ... [read more]

How Israel Won the Settlement Battle Again

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 13th Nov 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the gaping chasm between the rhetoric and the reality of US / UK policy on Israel-Palestine.... [read more]

No Emergency Summits for Arab Human Development Crisis

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 6th Nov 2009
Ramzy Baroud calls on Arab governments to do more to provide for their peoples' basic educational needs.... [read more]
 

War, Negation and Muslim Identity Revisited

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 23rd Oct 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the reductionist caricatures which underpin the supposed 'clash of civilizations' between the West and Islam.... [read more]

Obama’s Test: Democracy or Chaos in Latin America

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 16th Oct 2009
Will the Obama administration break with tradition and provide US support for democracy in Latin America? Probably not, if the Honduras coup is anything to go by, says Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]

Iran's Nuclear Theatre Meant to Distract Attention

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 2nd Oct 2009
Ramzy Baroud dissects the media storm over Iran's arms programme.... [read more]
 

Justice This Time Around: Will Goldstone's Report Deliver?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 25th Sep 2009
Israel has arrogantly dismissed the findings of a new, detailed UN report into Israeli war crimes in Gaza, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

Perpetual Grief over September 11th

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 18th Sep 2009
In the wake of the 8th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 11th September 2001, Ramzy Baroud examines the skewed framework within which the mainstream discourse has treated '9/11'.... [read more]

US Audacity of Hope Falters: Settlement Freeze No Longer Required

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 4th Sep 2009
The Obama administration's policy on Israel-Palestine is looking increasingly indistinguishable from that of the Bush years, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]
 

Drones and Democracy in Afghanistan

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 28th Aug 2009
As Afghanistan goes to the polls amid a flurry of rhetoric about democratising the Middle East, Ramzy Baroud considers the democratic credentials of a US-led military campaign characterised by large-scale bombings and summary executions.... [read more]

Fatah: A New Beginning or an Imminent End?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 21st Aug 2009
The 'pragmatism' of the Fatah Congress threatens to derail the Palestinian national project,as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

Gaza’s Kite Runners

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 14th Aug 2009
Ramzy Baroud on how the simple act of flying a kite came to symbolise resistance in Gaza.... [read more]
 

The Israeli Conundrum: ‘How to Deal with Iran’

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 7th Aug 2009
US backtracking on military action against Iran has left Israel in the lurch, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

Who Killed Yasser Arafat and Why?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 31st Jul 2009
Ramzy Baroud considers the implications of the conspiracy theories surrounding Yasser Arafat's death five years ago.... [read more]

Gaza and the Language of Power

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 24th Jul 2009
The Israeli assault on Gaza his slipped off the radar of mainstream news coverage, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]
 

Forget the Headlines - Iraqi Freedom Deferred

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 10th Jul 2009
After over five years of carnage, Ramzy Baroud pours scorn on US claims to have 'liberated' Iraq.... [read more]

Beyond Politics: People for Sale in a Hungry World

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 3rd Jul 2009
Ramzy Baroud reviews the findings of a US State Department report on human trafficking.... [read more]

Ahmadinejad Re-elected: Israel and Obama’s Iran Puzzle

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 26th Jun 2009
The crisis in Iran presents a singular challenge to Barack Obama's foreign policy credentials, writes Ramzy Baroud.... [read more]
 

A Boy and an Artificial Leg: A Gaza Story

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 19th Jun 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the everyday struggle of the child victims of Israeli violence.... [read more]

Obama Working His Magic on Arabs?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 12th Jun 2009
Much has been made of Barack Obama's big speech in Egypt last week. Ramzy Baroud is not convinced.... [read more]

Netanyahu’s New Quest: The Game is On

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 5th Jun 2009
Ramzy Baroud looks at how the new Israeli leadership is seeking to steer US policy towards confrontation with Iran.... [read more]
 

Gaza Disowned: The Pope, Israel and ‘Reconciliation’

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 29th May 2009
Ramzy Baroud reflects on the Pope's controversial visit to Israel/Palestine.... [read more]

The Drones Are Coming: A New War on Civilians

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 22nd May 2009
Despite much talk of a change of culture in US foreign policy under President Obama, the bombing of civilians will remain a cornerstone of US strategy in the Middle East, as Ramzy Baroud explains.... [read more]

War Without Context: Fatah, Hamas and Flawed Language

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 15th May 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the sinister manipulation of language which characterises the mainstream discourse on the Israel-Palestine issue.... [read more]
 

Clinton's Unpromising Start

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 8th May 2009
Ramzy Baroud on the inauspicious opening phase of the new Obama administration's Middle East policy.... [read more]

Middle East 'Spies': A New Front for Gaza's Conflict

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 1st May 2009
Ramzy Baroud examines a controversial new dimension to Israel's counter-terrorism strategy.... [read more]

Non-Violence in Palestine: Timing and Intentions

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 24th Apr 2009
Ramzy Baroud examines the discourse on violence in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict.... [read more]
 

Israel Investigated, But Will It Repent?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 17th Apr 2009
Ramzy Baroud issues a call for justice for the victims of Israeli violence.... [read more]

Is Israel Winning the 'Media War' over Gaza?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 16th Jan 2009
In the week that the death toll from Israel's vicious onslaught passed the 1,000 mark, Ramzy Baroud looks back on a clinical campaign of distortion and misinformation by the Western mainstream media.... [read more]

Gaza and the World: Will Things Ever Change?

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 9th Jan 2009
Reviewing the events of the past fortnight in Gaza, Ramzy Baroud condemns the failure of Arab governments to provide meaingful support for the Palestinian people.... [read more]
 

Unscripted: Green Zone Theatre and the Shoe Drama

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 2nd Jan 2009
Ramzy Baroud on how Muntadhar al-Zaidi's shoe-throwing intervention served to pierce, however momentarily, the veil of stage-managed deception which characterises Nuri al-Maliki's Iraq.... [read more]

The Cluster Bomb Treaty and the World’s Unfinished Business

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 19th Dec 2008
Ramzy Baroud examines the curious logic behind the United States' refusal to sign a treaty banning cluster bombs - and finds it wanting.... [read more]

Iraq's US Security Charade

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 12th Dec 2008
As the mainstream media complacently celebrate the security pact which purports to confer independence upon the puppet regime in Baghdad, Ramzy Baroud provides a withering assessment of what the agreement really means.... [read more]
 

The Rights of Women as Casualties of War

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 28th Nov 2008
With two tragic Palestinian deaths receiving international publicity, Ramzy Baroud considers the everyday suffering inflicted upon women in times of war and occupation.... [read more]

Unsettling Signs: Buzzwords, Politics and US Elections

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 21st Nov 2008
Looking back over the US presidential election contest, Ramzy Baroud is sceptical about the likelihood of serious "change" under an Obama administration.... [read more]

Bush's Last Bullet: Why the US Attacked Syria

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 14th Nov 2008
In the aftermath of the appalling US raid on Syria, Ramzy Baroud examines the familiar double-standard in the mainstream discourse on what constitutes unacceptable policy and aggression.... [read more]
 

A Third Palestinian Intifada in the Making

by Ramzy Baroud

Fri 7th Nov 2008
Prominent journalist and author Ramzy Baroud considers the many uncertainties ahead for the Palestinian struggle. ... [read more]