Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are shown in green. I have loosely grouped the posts where such seemed reasonable, but that is subjective (i.e., my opinion - others are free to disagree), and challenging, as some posts belong in multiple “groups”.
Reporting on recent and currrently ongoing war in West Asia (I object to the colonial term “Middle East”), in imperialistic Israel, Gaza, and adjoining nations, includes the following:
Note: as with other mass murderers/serial killers/and the like, violent extremists crave publicity, so I refuse to give that to them - I will avoid using their names (which is a policy adopted by good law enforcement and media for other mass murderers), and I will not give them the satisfaction of being described with the T word.
This is explained further in my post at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2023/10/from-news-on-war-in-west-asia-content_25.html.
Note also that the genocidal intent of the VE group I refuse to name is, and has been for some time, clear, according to this
from experts in that topic. Information suggests that several thousand
of the Palestinian deaths to date are likely to be from that group -
maybe up to 20% (as a maximum) of the total: the rest - more than 80% -
are innocent civilians, including babies, toddlers, and children. The images of starving children ([Content Warning! Disturbing images] e.g., here, here, here, here) are already haunting the world.
In my opinion, a safe place for Jewish people has to exist because of the world’s collective failures in the 1930s and 40s (the problem was not only Germany, but every nation that rejected Jewish asylum seekers/refugees [including my nation - although Yorta Yorta man William Cooper was a notable “upstander”] or allowed antisemitism - and that continues now) ... but
the Arab nations’ proposal for a single nation with Arab and Jewish
provinces should have been given more consideration, IMO, and now that MUST be as part of a two state solution, lest Israel’s foundation and existence be inherently based on an injustice - which, as part of correcting an injustice, intrinsically morally weakens that foundation and existence.
Note also: this, on when criticism of Israel becomes antisemitism; and Israel’s conduct since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the collapse of the Oslo Accords has - in addition to devastating and often displacing and killing its victims - been damaging of its standing (and devastating to those people on the receiving end), and its conduct now risks an even more self-damaging Pyrrhic “victory”. One day Israel will collectively recover enough from the events of 7th October to look around and grieve, shocked, at what they have done ...
- “Facing enormous pressure at home and abroad, how much longer can Israel continue its war in Gaza?” https://theconversation.com/facing-enormous-pressure-at-home-and-abroad-how-much-longer-can-israel-continue-its-war-in-gaza-227350 This is a sound assessment of the current situation in terms of “winning” vs. “losing” “Netanyahu government faces growing opposition • FRANCE 24 English” https://youtu.be/6DX2Xym-Hpg?si=79jTuZ6dxIcxJAeD It is also instructive to recall the following: “The USA used to Stand up to Israeli Expansionism: Time for Biden to Show Eisenhower’s Spine” https://www.juancole.com/2024/04/israeli-expansionism-eisenhowers.html “The relationship between the two countries was rocky at times. For instance, during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, President Harry Truman slapped an arms embargo on both Israel and the Arab countries as he saw the conflict as a source of instability that might give aid the spread of Communism in the region. President Dwight Eisenhower was even more stern, when Israel invaded Egypt in October 1956. Eisenhower warned, “Should a nation which attacks and occupies foreign territory in the face of United Nations disapproval be allowed to impose conditions on its withdrawal?”. Eisenhower threatened to call in US loans to Israel and crash its economy if Tel Aviv did not immediately withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip, which it had seized from Egypt. The Israelis completely caved to the angry demands of the former Supreme Allied Commander who had vanquished the Third Reich.” and subsequently: “Netanyahu making a ‘mistake’ on Gaza, says Biden, as he urges Israel to push for ceasefire” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/10/benjamin-netanyahu-joe-biden-gaza-mistake-ceasefire-israel-war-palestine “US president gives some of his strongest criticism of Israeli PM yet, saying he needs to ‘empower’ Israel’s negotiators to call for a truce”
- but “Biden vows ‘ironclad’ US commitment to Israel amid fears of Iran attack” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/10/biden-israel-iran-strike “US
president and allied officials fear ‘significant’ strike within days in
retaliation for Israeli bombing of consular building in Damascus” “How will Iran respond to Israel’s attack on its Damascus consulate?” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/8/how-will-iran-respond-to-israels-attack-on-its-damascus-consulate “Analysts say Iran is under pressure to respond in kind to Israel’s assassination of a senior Iranian commander in Damascus, but Tehran’s options are limited.” “US seeking to deter Iran from strike on Israel, officials say” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/11/us-confirms-israel-support-in-face-of-iran-reprisal “US declaring commitment to Israeli security while also working to prevent regional war, say officials” “Iran-Israel “Shadow War” Risks Spinning Out of Control” https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/iran-israel-shadow-war-risks-spinning-out-control “US warns of ‘real’ imminent threat against Israel” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2024/04/13/iran-retaliation-threat-israel “France, India, Russia, UK issue travel warnings over Israel-Iran tensions | Conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/12/france-india-russia-uk-issue-travel-warnings-over-israel-iran-tensions Given the reasonably close ties between Russia and Iran, the warnings by Russia could be particularly significant
- “Germany, Gaza and the World Court: Broadening the Scope of Genocide” https://theaimn.com/germany-gaza-and-the-world-court-broadening-the-scope-of-genocide/ “... the case may well chart a line about third party responsibilities on preventing genocide in international humanitarian law. At this point, the momentum towards some clarity on the point seems inexorable.” I think broadening (in the heading) is not the best word - the scope was already there, IMO: this will clarify and define the actuality of application, perhaps
- “Death by Algorithm: Israel’s AI War in Gaza” https://theaimn.com/death-by-algorithm-israels-ai-war-in-gaza/ “Israel accused of using AI to target thousands in Gaza, as killer algorithms outpace international law” https://theconversation.com/israel-accused-of-using-ai-to-target-thousands-in-gaza-as-killer-algorithms-outpace-international-law-227453
- “Weaponising underwear: Genocide with a semi-pornographic twist” https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/4/12/weaponising-underwear-genocide-with-a-semi-pornographic-twist “What should we make of Israel’s obscene social media stunts in Gaza?”
- “Palestinian request for UN membership in spotlight amid fears for Rafah invasion” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148341 “Palestinian request for UN membership moves on to specialized committee” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148366 “The
Security Council on Monday referred the application of the observer
State of Palestine for full UN membership to the specialized committee
set up to vet new members.” “As Palestine applies for full UN membership, what’s in the way?” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/9/as-palestine-applies-for-full-un-membership-whats-in-the-way “History set to be repeated as the US prepares to wield veto, insisting Palestine must negotiate statehood with Israel first” in my nation (Australia) on this: “Penny Wong floats recognising Palestine ahead of two-state solution to help path to peace” https://theconversation.com/penny-wong-floats-recognising-palestine-ahead-of-two-state-solution-to-help-path-to-peace-227456 “Palestinian state recognition the only hope to end violence in [West Asia], Penny Wong says” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/09/palestinian-state-recognition-the-only-hope-to-end-violence-in-[West-Asia]-penny-wong-says “Foreign
affairs minister tells conference two-state solution would undermine
_____ and calls on Israel to abandon plans for Rafah ground invasion” “Wong signals support for Palestinian state” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2024/04/10/wong-signals-support-for-palestinian-state “PM, senior Labor MPs back Wong on Palestine” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2024/04/10/pm-backs-two-state-solution “Senator Wong’s speech a good step but more must be done to halt Israel’s assault on Gaza” https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/media/wongs-speech-good-step-more-must-be-done “The politics of recognition: Australia and the question of Palestinian statehood” https://theconversation.com/the-politics-of-recognition-australia-and-the-question-of-palestinian-statehood-227563
- “Security Council urged to ‘end the bloodshed’ in Gaza” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148356 “The
President of the UN General Assembly appealed ... for “all those with
leverage” to use their power to bring an end to the six-month-long war
in Gaza.”
on peace/ceasefires:
- “Hope and anger in Gaza as talks to stop Israel’s war reconvene” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/9/hope-and-anger-in-gaza-as-talks-to-stop-israels-war-reconvene
- “Israel withdraws troops from southern Gaza for ‘tactical reasons’” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/07/israel-withdraws-troops-from-southern-gaza-for-tactical-reasons “It
is believed the drawdown is primarily to relieve reservists after
nearly four months of intense fighting in the decimated southern city of
Khan Younis, rather than any significant shift in strategy.” So ... don’t read anything in to this - the timing with regard to peace talks is simply a coincidence
on human rights and human suffering (on both sides) aspects:
- “Israeli officials who want to deny aid to Gaza civilians merit Australian sanctions, humanitarian groups say” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/08/israeli-officials-who-want-to-deny-aid-to-gaza-civilians-merit-australian-sanctions-humanitarian-groups-say I agree with this call - and note that Australia now has Magnitsky style sanctions “Stopping Famine in Gaza” https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/israelpalestine/244-stopping-famine-gaza “The
Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip has pushed many of its
residents to the edge of death from starvation and disease. Only a
prolonged ceasefire accompanied by a massive aid operation can improve
the situation enough to avoid a horrific toll” “UN continues to face aid access denials in Gaza” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148386 “UN-coordinated
food convoys are three times more likely to be denied access to north
Gaza than other aid convoys, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA,
reported”
- “Gazan doctors forced to choose which children to save” https://theaimn.com/gazan-doctors-forced-to-choose-which-children-to-save/ I suspect they’ve been having to make these sorts of decisions for some time, now
- “Palestinians return to destroyed homes in Khan Younis after Israeli withdrawal” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/08/palestinians-return-khan-younis-israeli-withdrawal-southern-gaza “People find landscape in southern Gaza city marked by shattered buildings and stench of death from under the rubble” “Rebuilding
Gaza was seen as a ‘Herculean’ task before Oct. 7; six months of
bombing has led to crises that will long outlive the war” https://theconversation.com/rebuilding-gaza-was-seen-as-a-herculean-task-before-oct-7-six-months-of-bombing-has-led-to-crises-that-will-long-outlive-the-war-223076
on military aspects:
- “Gaza war: countries selling Israel weapons are violating international law – legal expert” https://theconversation.com/gaza-war-countries-selling-israel-weapons-are-violating-international-law-legal-expert-227091 “Which countries supply Israel with arms and why is Biden reluctant to stop?” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/09/us-israel-weapons “Pressure
on Israel’s allies to halt the flow of arms has reached a boiling point
– why is the US still sending and have any countries stopped? ...
The US is the biggest supplier, providing an estimated 68% of Israel’s
foreign-sourced weapons. But Germany, providing around 30%, is also a
serious supplier. Others are believed to include Britain, Italy and
Australia – although Penny Wong, the Australian foreign affairs
minister, has said her country has not supplied weapons since the start
of the Gaza conflict.” “Nicaragua Sues Germany at Int’l Court of Justice to Halt Weapons to a “Genocidal” Israel” https://www.juancole.com/2024/04/nicaragua-germany-genocidal.html
- “Israel withdraws troops from southern Gaza for ‘tactical reasons’” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/07/israel-withdraws-troops-from-southern-gaza-for-tactical-reasons “It is believed the drawdown is primarily to relieve reservists after nearly four months of intense fighting in the decimated southern city of Khan Younis, rather than any significant shift in strategy.”
regionally:
- “The war in Gaza risks pulling in H_______h and Lebanon” https://theconversation.com/the-war-in-gaza-risks-pulling-in-h_______h-and-lebanon-227145
internationally:
- “Paul Bongiorno: Australia on collision course with Israel after Zomi Frankcom’s death changes everything” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2024/04/08/paul-bongiorno-israel-gaza-australia
My links for activism post may aid any activism you may decide to do on any/all of these. If you do, don’t get too fixated on specific instances of problems - important though they may well be: take a moment to also consider the broader issues these incidents and groups of incidents may suggest/reveal.
Assumptions / basis
In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following:
- this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;
Possible flaws
Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:
- there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan
Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”;
- I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post.
If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.
Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024 NO AI
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