2019-01-09: News Headlines

Caroline Cox (2019-01-09). There's a Toxic Weedkiller on the Menu in K-12 Schools Across the U.S. commondreams.org Glyphosate contamination was detected in 70 percent of products tested by the Center for Environmental Health, including big name brands like Quaker and Cheerios. (Photo credit: DavidF/iStock) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-01-09_at_1.06.36_pm.png

teleSUR (2019-01-09). Israel Approves Expansion of Ilegal Settlement Near Bethlehem. telesurenglish.net Israeli authorities have approved the construction of new settlement units in the Israeli settlement of Efrat in southern Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. | RELATED: | Bernie Sanders Slams 'Absurd' Anti-BDS Bill Amid Gov't Shutdown | Efrat is one of the fastest growing settlements in Gush Etzion, and the second largest community in the bloc with over 9,000 residents. | All settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. Nevertheless, Israel has pursued their c…

Richard Falk (2019-01-09). Palestinian Aspirations versus Zombie Geopolitics. zcomm.org How can we explain the durability of the two-state mantra in the domain of geopolitics?>

aljazeera (2019-01-09). The Zionist fallacy of 'Jewish supremacy'. aljazeera.com Framing Zionism as Jewish and not white supremacy is a dangerous proposition.

aljazeera (2019-01-09). Anti-BDS measure stalled in US Senate but 'will come back'. aljazeera.com Legislation that includes measure against boycotts of Israel hits roadblock as government shutdown enters 19th day.

WSWS (2019-01-09). Election campaign confirms further shift to the right by Israeli political establishment. wsws.org The campaign is dominated by the right-wing and militaristic agenda shared by all Israeli parties, allies and opponents of Likud alike.

Jake Johnson, staff writer (2019-01-09). Voted Down on Tuesday Night, McConnell Raises Alarm by Forcing Second Vote on 'Unconstitutional' Anti-Boycott Bill. commondreams.org "When was the last time the Senate voted twice in less than 24 hours to consider the same bill? They're doing it right now on S.1, a bill to authorize $38 billion in weapons for Israel and encourage states to deny contracts to people who support boycotts for Palestinian rights." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mcconnell_senate_vote_israel.jpg

Democracy Now! (2019-01-08). Rashida Tlaib: The Senate's Anti-BDS Bill Is an Unconstitutional Attack on Free Speech. democracynow.org 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."

Fight Back (2019-01-08). Freedom now for PFLP leader Ahmad Sa'adat. fightbacknews.org It's time to step up the struggle to free Ahmad Sa'adat, a noted Palestinian political prisoner and General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Sa'adat, who has been imprisoned for nearly 20 years, first by the corrupt and occupation-complicit Palestinian Authority, and now by the Israelis, has come to symbolize the resistance of the Palestinian people. He is a brilliant Marxist and advocate for socialism, who stands for liberation of every inch of Palestine. Sa'adat's courage in the face of the Israel's brutality shines as an example to everyone who yearns for a just world.

Stephen Lendman (2019-01-08). Israel Seeks $250 Billion Compensation Related to Stealing Historic Palestine. globalresearch.ca 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 …

Middle East Monitor (2019-01-08). US Israel-Palestine "Peace Deal": $250bn Compensation by Arab States for "Jewish Property Left Behind" globalresearch.ca The prospective American peace deal, dubbed as the "deal of the century", is to include that $250 billion be paid by Arab states in compensation for Jewish property left behind after the creation of Israel, Al-Wattan Voice said yesterday. | Reporting …

Middle East Monitor (2019-01-08). Something Really Bad Is Being Prepared for the Palestinians in Gaza. theantimedia.com (MEMO) — A senior member of the Hamas Political Bureau said on Monday that "the worst is still to come" as far as the Gaza Strip is concerned. Mousa Abu Marzook's remarks followed the announcement by the Palestinian Authority that it will withdraw its security officers from the Rafah Border Crossing, the only route between Gaza …

Whitney Webb (2019-01-08). With Golan Heights at Stake, Netanyahu and Bolton Set Trump Straight on Syria. theantimedia.com (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 …

Middle East Eye (2019-01-08). Anti-BDS Bill Slammed as 'Absurd' Amid US Government Shutdown Crisis. theantimedia.com (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 …

RT (2019-01-08). Too anti-Israel? Birmingham institute abruptly revokes Angela Davis' civil rights award. rt.com 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.

ACLU (2019-01-07). Instead of Ending the Shutdown, Senators Plan to Encourage Punishment of Israel Boycotts. aclu.org 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…

Hanna Alshaikh (2019-01-07). Thanks to Rashida Tlaib, Palestinians Finally Have a Voice in Washington. thenation.com Thanks to Rashida Tlaib, Palestinians Finally Have a Voice in Washington…

Democracy Now! (2019-01-07). Headlines for January 7, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Threatens to Call Nat'l Emergency as Shutdown Shows No Sign of Abatement, Bolton Says Syria Troop Withdrawal Contingent on Defeating ISIS, Netanyahu Calls for U.S. to Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over Golan Heights, Yemen: U.S. Airstrike Kills Plotter of 2000 USS Cole Attack, Pentagon Chief of Staff Resigns in Wake of Mattis Departure, France: Yellow Vests Protesters Take to Streets as Impasse with Gov't Persists, Intercept: Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Israeli Boycott Bill, 49 Migrants Stranded at Sea as European Countries Refuse to Host Them, Scientists Identify Recording of Noise Targeting U.S. Diplomats…

Whitney Webb (2019-01-07). With Golan at Stake, Netanyahu, Bolton Set Trump Straight on US Syria Withdrawal Plan. mintpressnews.com 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.

Miriam Berger (2019-01-07). Gaza's Opioid Problem. thenation.com Gaza's Opioid Problem…

Ryan Grim (2019-01-05). U.S. Senate's First Bill, in the Midst of the Shutdown, Is a Bipartisan Defense of the Israeli Government From Boycotts. theintercept.com Attacks on the free speech rights of Americans in the name of defending Israel seem to have no end in sight.

Shared by Hezvo Mpunga (2019-01-05). Durham NC Becomes First City to Ban Training By Israeli Police and Then be Forced to Reconsider It. therealnews.com Jazmynne Williams of Jewish Voices for Peace discusses the organizing efforts underway to ensure the ban remains

ACLU (2019-01-03). Why Should My Newspaper Pledge Not to Boycott Israel? aclu.org 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…

Democracy Now! (2019-01-02). Headlines for January 2, 2019. democracynow.org Brazil Swears In Far-Right President Jair Bolsonaro, Gov't Shutdown Enters 12th Day, Causing Chaos for Workers, Border Agents Tear-Gas Migrants at U.S.-Mexico Border, Texas: Activists Block Access to Tornillo Youth Immigration Jail, AZ: Prosecutors to Investigate Child Abuse at Immigrant Prison, Sec. of State Pompeo Reaffirms U.S. Military Relationship with Israel, Israeli PM: Bolsonaro Pledged to Move Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Man at Protest, U.S. and Israel Formally Leave UNESCO, North Korea: Kim Jong-un Offers Both Threats and Peaceful Overtures to U.S., Netflix Pull…

LEILI (2018-12-08). German Court Confirms BDS Advocacy is Protected Freedom of Expression and Assembly. bdsmovement.net 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…

PEDRO (2018-12-06). Palestinians and Brazilians Call For Joint Struggle Against Israel-Bolsonaro Alliance. bdsmovement.net Palestinians and Brazilians Call For Joint Struggle Against Israel-Bolsonaro Alliance: BNC StatementWhile Brazil's new president wants to follow in the footsteps of Donald Trump moving the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, and Rio de Janeiro's new governor wants to buy Israeli weaponized drones, Palestinian and Rio de Janeiro's favelas' social movements call for a joint and global struggle agains…

LEILI (2018-11-26). Palestinian Civil Society Urges World Governments to Impose a Military Embargo on Saudi Regime Over Khashoggi Murder and War Crimes in Yemen, On Israel for War Crimes and Apartheid Against Palestinians. bdsmovement.net Palestinian Civil Society Urges World Governments to Impose a Military Embargo on Saudi Regime Over Khashoggi Murder and War Crimes in Yemen, On Israel for War Crimes and Apartheid Against Palestinians: Update"We appeal to progressives and social movements everywhere to pressure their governments to impose strict military embargoes on all states that are perpetrating crimes against hu…

ziyaad (2018-11-20). Airbnb's Decision to Exit Israel's Illegal Settlements: A Partial Victory for Human Rights & Accountability. bdsmovement.net Airbnb's Decision to Exit Israel's Illegal Settlements: A Partial Victory for Human Rights & Accountability: BNC StatementAirbnb's decision to end its business in Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is an important first step. It unfortunately fails to cover settlements in East Jerusalem, which is also occupied according to international law. All Isr…

Phyllis Bennis (2018-11-14). The Crisis in Gaza and a Potential Ceasefire. zcomm.org Discussing the recent Israeli special forces operation inside the Gaza Strip that killed 7 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier, as well as Israeli air strikes and a potential ceasefire…