(October 15, 2024)
One rogue nation cannot declare war on the UN itself and continue to get away with it
Archiv: favored entries
Dr. Stein Comments on the Results of the Presidential Election
(November 6, 2024)
Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for another disastrous Trump win. We need a true opposition party for people, planet and peace.
(…)
The pressure will continue to build for the political transformation that the American people demand. The political elites will continue to tell you that resistance is futile. Ignore them. This is our moment.
„Together, we are unstoppable.”
Indonesian parliament asks UN to revoke Israel membership
The Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) has urged the United Nations to revoke Israel‘s membership over Tel Aviv‘s military maneuvers that have claimed many victims.
„Expel Israel from the UN because the genocide carried out by the Israeli military continues, and more and more victims are falling,“ the committee‘s chairperson, Mardani Ali Sera, said in a statement released on Thursday.
Suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement
Paris, 12 March 2024. Respect for human rights is an essential element of the EU’s association agreements with partner countries. Article 2 states that „relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement“. Violation of the so-called „essential elements“ clauses allows the EU to denounce or suspend the agreements in whole or in part under Article 60 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. In the light of the deaths and suffering endured by the Palestinian people, the European Union has the duty and the means to act to prevent Israel’s crimes in Gaza and to reduce the extent of human suffering.
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese calls David Lammy a ‚genocide denier‘
)November 14, 2024)
The United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories has accused British Foreign Secretary David Lammy of being a „genocide denier“ and said the UK has done „nothing“ to prevent atrocities in Gaza.
In an interview with Middle East Eye in London on Wednesday, Francesca Albanese took aim at Lammy in response to comments he made in late October denying that Israel is committing genocide.
„I hadn‘t realised that Mr Lammy was a lawyer,“ she said, referring to Lammy‘s legal background.
„As a politician, you might say that for political convenience,“ she suggested, adding that would still make someone „a genocide denier“.
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is Trump‘s pick for director of national intelligence
(November 13, 2024)
„Trump ended up with some neocons around him who were trying to undermine his objectives so they could feed their goals of continuing to keep us in a perpetual state of war,“ Gabbard said, discussing his first administration. „This administration has us facing multiple wars on multiple fronts and regions around the world and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before,“ Gabbard said when she endorsed Trump during a campaign event in Michigan.
„This is one of the main reasons why I‘m committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House, where he can, once again, serve us as our commander in chief.“
Trump picks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his Department of Health and Human Services secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, a choice that would add to Trump’s list of provocative picks whose confirmation processes will test the loyalty of Senate Republicans.
Trump on Thursday announced the selection, confirming CNN’s earlier reporting, saying he was thrilled to share the pick.
Sudan: Allies of warring generals ‘enabling the slaughter,’ Security Council hears
Ms. DiCarlo condemned not only the RSF attacks but also the indiscriminate airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in civilian-populated areas such as the capital Khartoum and El Fasher, a major city in North Darfur hosting thousands of internally displaced which has been besieged for months by the RSF.
“Both warring parties bear responsibility for this violence,” she stressed.
She added that as the rainy season nears its end, both sides continue to escalate their military operations, recruit new fighters and intensify their attacks, fuelled by “considerable” external support and a steady flow of arms.
“To put it bluntly, certain purported allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan. This is unconscionable, it is illegal, and it must end.”
(…)
The situation in Sudan has been in a freefall since the war erupted last April.
It is now the world’s worst displacement crisis, with more than 11 million people driven from their homes – nearly three million among them into neighbouring countries as refugees, according to the UN relief coordinating office, OCHA.
The war has also unleashed a severe hunger crisis, affecting millions.
Anwar calls for world consensus to expel Israel from UN
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on the world community to build a consensus on suspending or even expelling Israel from the United Nations (UN).
Delivering the national statement at the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday (Nov 11), Anwar reiterated that Israel has gone beyond reason and humanity itself in its vile and blatant perpetration of the genocide of the people of Palestine.
Tens of Thousands Across Israel Protest Far-Right Govt and for the Release of Hostages
(November 10, 2024)
Protests calling against Netanyhau’s government and for the release of hostages were also held Saturday evening in Jerusalem, Beersheba, Haifa, Kfar Sava, Raanana Junction, Nes Ziona, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, Rehovot, Karkur Junction, the southern Shaar HaNegev crossroad, Zikhron Yaacov and other localities. Five people were arrested in Jerusalem, Haifa and Karkur. At Haifa the police attacked again a protest vigil at Central Carmel, Activists from the Anti-Occupation Bloc, among them Hadash activists, demanded the end of the deadly war in Gaza and Lebanon and during the protest cops confiscated signs against the massacre in Gaza
Iran pushes for Israel’s expulsion from UN and full arms embargo at Riyadh summit
He stated that these actions, alongside what he views as continuous aggression, warrant Israel‘s expulsion from the UN.
Gharibabadi concluded his remarks by calling for the reactivation of the UN‘s apartheid committee to address Israel’s systemic violations of international law and its expansion of conflicts across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
PM Anwar to address Israeli violence, Middle East tensions in meeting with Lebanese PM, Kuwaiti Crown Prince in Riyadh
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati, and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this afternoon.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting will take place before the Extraordinary Summit of the Arab-Islamic States in the capital of Saudi Arabia.
Arab and Muslim leaders meet in Saudi to discuss Gaza, Lebanon wars
This summit follows a similar one held a year ago in Riyadh, where leaders from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Israeli military actions in Gaza as “barbaric.”
Arab, Muslim leaders fly to Saudi for talks on Mideast wars
The Saudi foreign ministry announced the summit in late October during the first meeting of an „international alliance“ pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Malaysia prepares draft resolution to expel Israel from UN
(November 6, 2024)
Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that Malaysia is preparing a draft resolution for the UN General Assembly to expel Israel from the United Nations.
“We are also studying (a proposal)… after the violation of laws, principles and UN decisions, for Israel to be expelled as a member of the UN,” Anwar told parliament in a special address on Monday.
Petition to the UN General Assembly: unseating Israel is the only way to preserve the integrity of the international legal system.
Israel systematically infringes its duties towards the UN repeatedly violating the protections afforded to UN bodies such as the UNRWA and UNIFIL. This includes causing the death of UN workers, and bombing UN facilities. Furthermore, it resolutely refuses to engage with UN Mechanisms by not allowing visits from the UN Secretary-General, UN Special Rapporteurs, and the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry, among others. Within the halls of the UN, Israel also repeatedly issues defamatory statements against the organisation. These actions reflect a complete disregard for UN systems and are in breach of international law.
Israel’s systematic denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and relentless appropriation of Palestinian land have led to a critical, historical juncture in which the Israeli state is pursuing genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians with ruthless, unprecedented force and determination. The very existence of the Palestinian people hinges on ending Israeli impunity and, at long last, realizing their right to control their own political, social, and economic destiny. Additionally, the gravity of the illegalities caused by Israel has raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the international legal system as a whole, threatening its continued integrity.
The General Assembly and its Member States can and must take meaningful action on both fronts —the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the integrity of the international legal system—without delay by unseating the Israeli government from the Assembly, in accordance with the Assembly’s authority to approve the credentials of Member State delegations.
Unseating a state government’s delegation is an exceptional action, but , in this case, it is grounded in precedent—specifically, the unseating of South Africa’s apartheid government from the General Assembly in 1974—and in law. Fifty years ago, the General Assembly exercised its authority under the credentialing rules to unseat South Africa’s delegation, concluding that the government was unrepresentative and therefore illegitimate due to its failure to provide representation to its indigenous Black population. Even though South Africa’s apartheid practices were central to this decision, the removal of the South African delegation was also implicitly grounded in the right of self-determination, which was denied to the country’s Black population by the very nature of apartheid.
As demonstrated by the ICJ’s July 19, 2024 advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s policies and practices in the OPT, the case for unseating Israel’s government for lack of representativeness is just as strong as it was in the case of South Africa, if not stronger.
Why more than 500 scholars think Israel should be unseated from UN
)November 8, 2024)
More than 500 scholars and practitioners of international law, international relations, conflict studies, politics, and genocide studies have called on the UN General Assembly and its member states to unseat Israel from the assembly.
Time to suspend Israel from the UN
(November 6, 2024)
Israel‘s abrogation on Sunday of its 1967 agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has intensified calls for Israel‘s expulsion from the world body or, at least, its suspension from General Assembly participation. This action followed the October 28th ban by Israel‘s parliament on UNRWA’s operations in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
By Criminalizing UNRWA, Israel Is Delegitimizing the United Nations
Israel‘s banning of UNRWA should represent an opportunity for those concerned about the standing of the United Nations, to remind Israel that U.N. members who have no respect for international law deserve to be delegitimized. This time, words must be accompanied by action. Nothing else will suffice.
When Did Liberals Become So Comfortable With War?
First, history has shown that governments and bureaucracies tend to become addicted to a war footing, with failure sucking them in further — think of America’s war on terror, or Vietnam. War encourages a perverse cycle of escalation in which huge financial and political gains accrue for governments and the military-industrial complex while the costs tend to be borne by weaker parties — before they start to come home in some shape or form.
We’ve called this bipartisan pattern “wreckonomics” and have found it especially present in wars or conflicts with costs that Western politicians can largely outsource — from fighting terrorism, drugs and smugglers to quasi-colonial interventions during the Cold War.
Instead of looking inwards, white liberals are blaming Arab Americans for Trump‘s victory
(November 8, 2024)
Democrats actually benefitted from Trump‘s rise, which presented an opportunity for them to win votes freely by positioning themselves as the only alternative to outright fascism.
Yet, instead of looking inwards for answers on why Harris lost to a candidate as problematic as Trump, these liberal Democrats chose to reprimand minorities. Signalling a sense of superiority, they could not hide their racism, implying that it was incumbent upon these minority communities to vote within the guidelines provided by their liberal saviours.
By this logic, Arabs, Muslims and Latinos must vote for a Democrat no matter what.
Trump Announces Readiness to End Gaza War in Call With Abbas
(November 8, 2024)
Trump told Abbas that he would “work to stop the war,” and that he looks forward to working to “promote peace in the Middle East.”
The call represents a shift in Trump’s relations with the Palestinian Authority. During his first term, the group severed ties with the U.S. due to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Until now, Trump had not since spoken with Abbas.
President Abbas congratulates U.S. President-elect Trump, emphasizes commitment to peace
(November 8, 2024)
President Abbas also reaffirmed his readiness to work with President Trump in pursuit of a just and comprehensive peace, based on international legitimacy and principles.
In response, President Trump emphasized his commitment to the stop the war and reiterated his willingness to collaborate with President Abbas, as well as other regional and global stakeholders, in efforts to achieve peace in the region.
Trump tells Palestinian president he’s committed to ending Gaza war
US President Donald Trump told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a phone conversation on Friday that he‘s committed to stopping the war in Gaza and willing to collaborate with the Palestinian leader, Wafa news agency reported.
President Abbas congratulated the US president during the call and expressed his hope that Trump would lead the United States towards further progress and prosperity during his term in office.
Elon Musk joins Donald Trump in ‚very good call‘ with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
(November 8, 2024)
A senior Ukrainian official confirmed to Fox News that Elon Musk joined a Trump-Zelenskyy call on Wednesday in which President Zelenskyy congratulated the president-elect on his win.
„It was a very good call. Our work continues,“ said the Ukrainian official to Fox News.
Zelenskyy congratulates Trump on “historic landslide” US presidential victory in “excellent” phone call
(November 7, 2024)
The Ukrainian President wrote:
“I had an excellent call with President [Donald Trump] and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory—his tremendous campaign made this result possible. I praised his family and team for their great work.“
Zelenskyy noted that both leaders “agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation,” emphasizing that “strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”
Vorgezogene Bundestagswahl: Ist eine schnellere Neuwahl überhaupt machbar?
Sowohl Wahlkreiskandidaten als auch Landeslisten müssen von Parteiversammlungen demokratisch bestimmt werden. Und das braucht gewisse Zeit für die Vorbereitung.
Im Bundeswahlgesetz steht: Wahlvorschläge für die Wahlkreise und Landeslisten der Parteien sind spätestens am 69. Tag vor der Wahl schriftlich einzureichen. Im Anschluss muss der Bundeswahlausschuss über die Zulassung der Wahlvorschläge entscheiden.
CAIR Calls on Democrats to Learn Lessons from Harris’ Defeat, Urges President-Elect Trump to End Gaza Genocide on Just Terms
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also pledged to work with partners and allies in the coming months and years to once again oppose the pursuit of any unjust or harmful domestic or foreign policies by the new administration.
Democrats Ignored Gaza and Brought Down Their Party
Over the past year, Israel’s slaughter and starvation of Palestinians — funded by U.S. taxpayers and live-streamed on social media — has triggered one of the greatest surges in progressive activism in a generation. Many Americans roused to action by their government’s complicity in Gaza’s destruction have no personal connection to Palestine or Israel. Like many Americans who protested South African apartheid or the Vietnam War, their motive is not ethnic or religious. It is moral.
Why Did the Democrats Lose? Because They Gave Up on the Working Class 40 Years Ago
The Democrats assumed the working class had nowhere else to go. They were wrong!
Jon Stewart’s Election Night Takeaway | The Daily Show
(12 hours ago)
Jon Stewart shares his takeaways from Election Night 2024: A glimpse into the fate of the presidency and the mistakes that‘ll be made all over again. #DailyShow #JonStewart #Trump
Jon Stewart‘s Debate Analysis: Trump‘s Blatant Lies and Biden‘s Senior Moments | The Daily Show
(June 28, 2024)
Jon Stewart goes live after CNN‘s presidential debate to unpack Biden‘s senior moments and Trump‘s blatant lies. #DailyShow #JonStewart #Debate
Jon Stewart kicks off The Daily Show‘s election coverage with a wellness check on America‘s two chronologically challenged candidates: Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
(February 13, 2024)
A Soldier‘s diary : an Israel reserve soldier‘s occupation diary
Authors: Gideon Gitai, Yishai Shuster, Era Lapid, Kirsti Eskelinen, Yleisradio Oy, Gig Films Production, First Run/Icarus Films
Summary: This unsettling film was made by Gideon Gitai and Yishai Shuster, a disillusioned soldier who served as part of an Israeli military force occupying the West Bank. They created the film because, as Shuster explained, ‚I wanted my friends to see what I saw in the occupied territories‘—the seemingly endless tension and conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli settlers, driven by the ongoing political and military situation. The Israeli soldiers found themselves in the difficult position of regularly controlling and confronting the Arab civilian population, a task that most of them disliked. The rare documentation Shuster provided reflects resistance to the policing measures imposed by the state on the Palestinian population. These practices have since intensified, becoming a painful routine, with Palestinian citizens—deprived of rights—suffering under the weight of Israeli occupation.
VHS Video, Hebrew, ©1991
“Why You Must Watch This Lost Documentary on the Israeli Occupation ‚Reserve Diary: Hebron 1989‘
was perhaps the first Israeli film to break the silence on soldiers‘ illegal actions in the West Bank – so how come almost no one has seen it in 35 years? Its director, Yishai Shuster, reveals all.” @palestine #westbank
Link to the article https://archive.is/fY6MK
Link to the documentary: https://youtu.be/AcNOxPKvYFo
PM Anwar: Malaysia’s firm stance on Israel goes beyond international willingness
Describing this statement as not being arrogant, he noted that his counterparts from numerous countries have also reminded him of the risks associated with being vocal on this matter.
“This morning, I talked with the foreign minister about the statements we have issued and how to ensure that Malaysia is not adversely affected.
“If you read the latest book on the roles of several countries, including the United States, you will see how many governments they have toppled because of the firm stance the countries were taking that they deemed contrary to their own. This is a risk I always consider and do not dismiss.”
Is it possible that after 42,000 people killed, you cannot empathize with the Palestinians?
(October 30, 2024)
In her address to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese expressed frustration, saying, „I always experience a sense of shock and delusion when I come to this room because many of you recite the same script you had last year.“ She acknowledged the condemnation of Hamas‘s attack, the solidarity shown to Israeli victims, and calls for the release of hostages but questioned the lack of empathy toward Palestinians, stating, „Is it possible that after 42,000 people killed, you cannot empathize with the Palestinians?“ Albanese criticized those who had ignored the crisis in Gaza, saying, „Empathy has evaporated from this room, and empathy is the glue that makes us stand united as humanity.“
Francesca Albanese: „Gaza is now a wasteland of rubble, garbage and human remains.“
(October 31, 2024)
Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, presented her latest report to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 30 October 2024.
UN draft resolution: Malaysia proposes expelling Israel from UN
Malaysia has prepared a draft resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UN) which, among others, suggests that Israel be removed as a member of the organisation should there be a violation of laws, rules and decisions in issues involving Palestine.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the draft resolution is in the negotiation process and is expected to be tabled at the UN General Assembly for approval soon.