Angela Davis is latest Black target of Israel lobby
Ali Abunimah | zcomm.org | 2019-01-08
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has canceled its annual gala at which iconic Black scholar and activist Angela Davis was to receive a prestigious human rights award…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/angela-davis-is-latest-black-target-of-israel-lobby/

Instead of Ending the Shutdown, Senators Plan to Encourage Punishment of Israel Boycotts
Kate Ruane | commondreams.org | 2019-01-08
The Combating BDS Act would attempt to give legal cover to states that enact laws penalizing businesses and individuals who participate in boycott activities against Israel and Israeli-controlled territories. (Photo: Alex Christy/Flickr) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/web19-bds-protest-1160×768.jpeg…
commondreams.org/views/2019/01/08/instead-ending-shutdown-senators-plan-encourage-punishment-israel-boycotts?cd-origin=rss

Israel: PM Netanyahu 'Desperate' to Squelch Corruption Probe
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-08
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Israeli voters on Monday at a crucial time during his electoral campaign in what Israeli politicians are calling a "desperate" attempt to influence an investigation involving corruption charges against him and his inner circle. | RELATED: | Early Elections: Who Will Dethrone 'The King of Israel'? | Opposition leader Shelly Yachimovich reacted to the PM's speech, "We saw a cynical and pathetic elections speech of someone who is trying with all…
telesurenglish.net/news/Israel-PM-Netanyahu-Desperate-to-Squelch-Corruption-Probe-20190108-0006.html

Israel Seeks $250 Billion Compensation Related to Stealing Historic Palestine
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-08
The Jewish state gives chutzpah new meaning. It seeks $250 billion from seven Arab states and Iran in connection to its theft of historic Palestine — one of history's great crimes. | It took 78% in 1948, the Palestinian Nakba, the … | The post Israel Seeks $250 Billion Compensation Related to Stealing Historic Palestine appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/israel-seeks-compensation-related-to-stealing-historic-palestine/5664977

American Civil Rights Institute Rescinds Angela Davis Honor
STAFF | truthdig.com | 2019-01-08
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Black activists on Monday called for leadership changes and protests at an Alabama civil rights museum after it rescinded an award for political activist Angela Davis, a move the mayor said followed complaints from the Jewish community. | Speaking outside the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, located in the same downtown area where civil rights violence once shocked the nation, organizers told a news conference that Davis, a Birmingham native, was wronged by the decision to rescind the honor. | Davis, a longtime activist who has supported Palestinian rights and criticized Israeli policy,…
truthdig.com/articles/american-civil-rights-institute-rescinds-angela-davis-honor/

Rashida Tlaib: The Senate's Anti-BDS Bill Is an Unconstitutional Attack on Free Speech
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-08
A new Senate bill would allow state and local governments to boycott any U.S. companies which are engaged in a boycott against Israel. We speak with Congressmember Rashida Tlaib, who has come out out against the bill, tweeting, "They forgot what country they represent. This is the U.S. where boycotting is a right & part of our historical fight for freedom & equality. Maybe a refresher on our U.S. Constitution is in order, then get back to opening up our government instead of taking our rights away."
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/8/rashida_tlaib_responds_to_critics_after

Bernie Sanders Slams 'Absurd' Anti-BDS Bill Amid Gov't Shutdown
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-08
As the United States government shutdown enters its third week, Republican senators Marco Rubio and James Risch proposed a bill targeting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a move representatives Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib, among others, heavily criticized. | RELATED: | HSBC: War Crimes, Not BDS, Behind Divesting from Israeli Arms Maker | "It's absurd that the first bill during the shutdown is legislation which punishes Americans who exercise their con…
telesurenglish.net/news/Bernie-Sanders-Slams-Absurd-Anti-BDS-Bill-Amid-Govt-Shutdown-20190108-0018.html

CBC Scrutiny of Jewish National Fund (JNF). Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
CFJPIME | globalresearch.ca | 2019-01-08
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the Canadian media's scrutiny of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) — Canada. On Friday, the CBC's Evan Dyer published a thorough article exposing how the JNF-Canada is in contravention … | The post CBC Scrutiny of Jewish National Fund (JNF). Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/cbc-scrutiny-of-jewish-national-fund-jnf-canadians-for-justice-and-peace-in-the-middle-east/5664932

With Golan Heights at Stake, Netanyahu and Bolton Set Trump Straight on Syria
Whitney Webb | theantimedia.com | 2019-01-08
(MPN) — The state of Israel seems to share at least some of the responsibility for the latest shift of U.S. Syria policy — as National Security Adviser John Bolton announced on Sunday that President Donald Trump's call to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria would now be "coordinated" with Israel, after meeting with top Israeli officials including Israeli Prime …

With Golan Heights at Stake, Netanyahu and Bolton Set Trump Straight on Syria

Anti-BDS Bill Slammed as 'Absurd' Amid US Government Shutdown Crisis
Middle East Eye | theantimedia.com | 2019-01-08
(MEE) — A US Senate measure encouraging states and local governments to "divest" from companies that boycott Israel has stirred controversy in Washington, with civil rights groups rallying against the proposal and Senator Bernie Sanders slamming it as "absurd". The measure, presented in a wider Middle East foreign policy bill, was introduced last week amidst a …

Anti-BDS Bill Slammed as 'Absurd' Amid US Government Shutdown Crisis

Too anti-Israel? Birmingham institute abruptly revokes Angela Davis' civil rights award
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-08
Alabama-based Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has changed its mind about honoring civil rights activist Angela Davis, without much of an explanation. Critics are pointing to Davis's positions on Israel and Palestine for clues. | …
rt.com/usa/448273-angela-davis-birmingham-honors/

New Senate anti-BDS Bill Unconstitutional and Ineffective at Curbing Boycotts
Alexander Rubinstein | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-07
"It says quite a bit about the priorities of the new Congress when in the midst of a government shutdown, when federal workers are not receiving their paychecks, the new Congress is more concerned with curtailing the First Amendment rights of the people." — Chip Gibbons, U.S. Constitutional Law Expert | The post New Senate anti-BDS Bill Unconstitutional and Ineffective at Curbing Boycotts appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/new-senate-anti-bds-bill-unconstitutional-and-ineffective-at-curbing-israel-boycotts/253598/

Thanks to Rashida Tlaib, Palestinians Finally Have a Voice in Washington
Hanna Alshaikh | thenation.com | 2019-01-07
Thanks to Rashida Tlaib, Palestinians Finally Have a Voice in Washington…
thenation.com/article/rashida-tlaib-palestinian-thobe-washington/

Gaza's Opioid Problem
Miriam Berger | thenation.com | 2019-01-07
Gaza's Opioid Problem…
thenation.com/article/gaza-opioid-problem/

Instead of Ending the Shutdown, Senators Plan to Encourage Punishment of Israel Boycotts
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-07
The Senate wants to provide legal cover to the many states violating the First Amendment by punishing people for their views on Israel. | In the middle of a government shutdown, the Senate leadership's first order of business in the 116th Congress is not legislation to reopen the government. | Instead, and incredibly, the Senate is again trying to slip a measure intended to suppress protected political expression past public scrutiny. The bill is the " Combatting BDS Act," which would express federal approval of state laws that place re…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/instead-ending-shutdown-senators-plan-encourage-punishment-israel-boycotts

With Golan at Stake, Netanyahu, Bolton Set Trump Straight on US Syria Withdrawal Plan
Whitney Webb | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-07
Understanding the significance of the Golan Heights is in many ways key to understanding why the Syrian conflict was engineered by foreign powers in the first place. | The post With Golan at Stake, Netanyahu, Bolton Set Trump Straight on US Syria Withdrawal Plan appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/with-golan-at-stake-netanyahu-bolton-set-trump-straight-on-us-syria-withdrawal-plan/253616/

Early Elections: Who Will Dethrone 'The King of Israel'?
Ramzy Baroud | counterpunch.org | 2019-01-07
"A historic mistake" is how Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu responded to calls for early elections last November. A few weeks later, he spoke, in exaggerated confidence of the "unanimous" agreement of his right-wing coalition that early elections must be held next April. So why the change of heart? Netanyahu may not be a good…
counterpunch.org/2019/01/07/early-elections-who-will-dethrone-the-king-of-israel/

'Boycott Israel, we'll boycott you': How US Senators & state lawmakers put foreign power first
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-07
With the US Senate opening 2019 with a bill aimed at protecting Israel from boycott, similar state-level laws are facing opposition. One newspaper in Arkansas is suing the state, calling the boycott ban unconstitutional. | …
rt.com/usa/448255-senate-israel-boycott-law/

America's last? First Senate bill of 2019 aims to protect Israel from boycott, report reveals
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-06
With the start of the 2019 legislative session, one might hope the US Senate would prioritize ending the two-week government shutdown. Instead, the Senate's first bill of the year reportedly aims to protect Israel from boycotts. | …
rt.com/usa/448190-us-senate-israel-boycott-law/

Durham NC Becomes First City to Ban Training By Israeli Police and Then be Forced to Reconsider It
Shared by Hezvo Mpunga | therealnews.com | 2019-01-05
Jazmynne Williams of Jewish Voices for Peace discusses the organizing efforts underway to ensure the ban remains | The post Durham NC Becomes First City to Ban Training By Israeli Police and Then be Forced to Reconsider It appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/durham-nc-becomes-first-city-to-ban-training-by-israeli-police-and-then-be-forced-to-reconsider-it

U.S. Senate's First Bill, in the Midst of the Shutdown, Is a Bipartisan Defense of the Israeli Government From Boycotts
Ryan Grim | theintercept.com | 2019-01-05
Attacks on the free speech rights of Americans in the name of defending Israel seem to have no end in sight. | The post U.S. Senate's First Bill, in the Midst of the Shutdown, Is a Bipartisan Defense of the Israeli Government From Boycotts appeared first on The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2019/01/05/u-s-senates-first-bill-in-midst-of-shutdown-is-a-bipartisan-defense-of-the-israeli-government-from-boycotts/

Why Should My Newspaper Pledge Not to Boycott Israel?
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-03
An unconstitutional Arkansas law requires companies contracting with the state to certify that they will not boycott Israel. | Last year, letters from the state of Arkansas began drifting across my desk, demanding that our weekly newspaper, the Arkansas Times, either sign a pledge not to boycott Israel or forfeit all state advertising. | The letters were the result of an obscure, cookie-cutter law passed in 2017 by our Republican-controlled legislature. Specifically, it requires any company entering into a contract with a public entity to certify that it "is not currently engaged in, and agrees for the duration o…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/freedom-press/why-should-my-newspaper-pledge-not-boycott-israel

Noam Chomsky on Pittsburgh Attack: Revival of Hate Is Encouraged by Trump's Rhetoric
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2018-12-31
On October 27th, a gunman stormed the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 Jewish worshipers. The massacre has been described as the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. After the shooting, we spoke with Noam Chomsky, the world-renowned professor, linguist and dissident, about Pittsburgh, Israel's policies toward Gaza and other recent white supremacist and right-wing attacks in the U.S.
www.democracynow.org/2018/12/31/noam_chomsky_on_pittsburgh_attack_revival

German Court Confirms BDS Advocacy is Protected Freedom of Expression and Assembly
LEILI | bdsmovement.net | 2018-12-08
German Court Confirms BDS Advocacy is Protected Freedom of Expression and Assembly: In the NewsA German court confirms that advocating for BDS and Palestinian rights constitutes freedom of expression and assembly, rights that are protected by the German constitution and are essential for democracy. The court ruled that the German city of Oldenburg unlawfully violated these fundamental rights when it revoked a perm…
bdsmovement.net/news/german-court-confirms-bds-advocacy-protected-freedom-expression-and-assembly