2019-02-12: News Headlines

Stephen Zunes (2019-02-12). Disappointment (and a Little Hope) in First Foreign Policy Test of the New Congress. progressive.org The new bill endorses state government efforts to punish socially conscious businesses that choose to boycott illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.

Robert Mackey (2019-02-12). Democrats Echo Israel's Far-Right. zcomm.org While right-wing Israelis prefer to say that the land where they rule a Palestinian population that is denied basic civil rights is contested, the occupation is a fact under international law…

teleSUR (2019-02-12). Trudeau Faces Corruption Probe Related to Millions in Bribes. telesurenglish.net Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing the investigations for illegally protecting an engineering firm SNC Lavalin from criminal fraud and corruption charges on bribing millions of dollars to the Libyan government. Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner launched the probe. | RELATED: | Mexican Migrants Kept as Slaves in Canada, Released

Middle East Monitor (2019-02-12). US Congresswomen Openly Endorse BDS Movement. theantimedia.com (MEMO) — The first two Middle East Congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, have openly endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Michigan congresswoman Tlaib said on Saturday that she wanted to highlight "issues such as racism and Israel's violations of the Palestinians' human rights". Meanwhile Omar, the congresswoman for Minnesota, said she is working …

Caitlin Johnstone (2019-02-12). The Real Reason Ilhan Omar Is Being Smeared by the Entire Political Establishment. theantimedia.com (CJ Opinion) — Well, now we all know what happens when a public official criticizes AIPAC. And of course, that was the whole idea. Listening and learning, but standing strong üí™üèΩ pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1 — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019 Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has published an apology for making self-evident observations about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), …

RT (2019-02-12). #StandwithIlhan: Social media users defend Ilhan Omar after her forced apology over anti-Semitism. rt.com Social media users are flocking to #StandwithIlhan after Rep. Ilhan Omar was pressured to issue an apology for her tweets about the Israel lobby's influence over US politicians, after she was accused of anti-Semitism.

Alexander Rubinstein (2019-02-12). Ilhan Omar is Right: AIPAC Influences Congress With $4 Million Every Year. theantimedia.com (MPN) — What unites Republicans and Democrats, a former Jewish terrorist, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, Nikki Haley, Chelsea Clinton and Liz Cheney? A Muslim lady with a mouth and some opinions, apparently. Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has been the subject of bipartisan bullying that has reached a fever pitch since the lawmaker …

Mehdi Hasan (2019-02-12). There Is a Taboo Against Criticizing AIPAC — and Ilhan Omar Just Destroyed It. theintercept.com Rep. Ilhan Omar may not have used the right words, but even the leadership of AIPAC has boasted about the Israel lobby's outsized power in Washington, D.C.

WSWS (2019-02-12). Bogus charges of anti-Semitism fuel right-wing campaign against Ilhan Omar. wsws.org The Democratic Party backlash only demonstrates the truth of Representative Omar's comments about the influence of the Israeli lobby on Congress.

Democracy Now! (2019-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2019. democracynow.org Shutdown Talks Stall as Friday Deadline Looms, Virginia: Gov. Northam Refuses to Step Down Amid Racism Crisis, Second Woman Accuses Virginia Lt. Gov. Fairfax of Rape, Venezuela: U.S. and Russia Dig In at U.N. with Rival Resolutions, Venezuela: Standoff over Aid Pits Military Against Guaidó Supporters, Rio: At Least 13 Dead in Shootout, Haiti: At Least 2 Killed in Anti-Government Protests, Gaza: Israeli Forces Kill 2 Teenage Protesters, Acting Pentagon Chief: No Orders to Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan, AMI, Saudi Official Respond After Bezos Accuses Nat'l Enquirer of Blackmail, Denver Public School Teacher…

Fight Back (2019-02-11). Anti-War protesters say 'No' to Klobuchar presidential bid. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – A contingent of demonstrators braved the cold and dense snowfall, February 10, establishing an anti-war presence at Boom Island Park, where Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar announced her 2020 presidential bid. | Klobuchar has a long history of voting with Republicans on the issues of foreign intervention and militarism, to include voting "Yea" on bills that imposed economic sanctions on Syria and Iran, added $61 billion to the defense budget, extended the expiration date of the PATRIOT Act, and authorized President Trump to transfer precision guided munitions to the Israeli apartheid regime. She…

Alison Weir (2019-02-11). Democratic Party Insiders Create Group To Promote Israel to Progressives. mintpressnews.com Some Democratic heavy hitters have formed a new pro-Israel organization focused on progressive Democrats. The new group, " Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI)," is the latest in a long line of groups working for Israel in the United States. | New York Jewish Week reports that the group was formed "to counter the drift — if not dive — away from support…

Alexander Rubinstein (2019-02-11). Ilhan Omar is Right: AIPAC Influences Congress To the Tune of $4 Million Annually. mintpressnews.com Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has been the subject of bipartisan bullying that has reached a fever pitch since the lawmaker explicitly called out the number one Israeli lobby group in the U.S. — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Democracy Now! (2019-02-11). Glenn Greenwald Defends Rep. Ilhan Omar: Criticizing Israeli Lobby & AIPAC Is Not Anti-Semitic. democracynow.org Democratic Congressmember Ilhan Omar of Minnesota is facing criticism today after commenting on a tweet by Glenn Greenwald. On Sunday, Greenwald tweeted, "GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy threatens punishment for @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib over their criticisms of Israel. It's stunning how much time US political leaders spend defending a foreign nation even if it means attacking free speech rights of Americans." Rep. Omar retweeted his post and added the line: "It's all about the Benjamins baby." She later named AIPAC as the organization paying American politicians to be pro-Israel.

Ali Abunimah (2019-02-11). Ilhan Omar Under Attack for Telling Truth About Israel Lobby. commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/omar_0.jpg

RT (2019-02-11). 'All about the Benjamins': Ilhan Omar sparks Twitter backlash over 'anti-Semitic' post. rt.com Rep Ilhan Omar's tweet that US politicians' support for Israel is 'all about the Benjamins' sparked a furious backlash on Twitter, with cries of anti-Semitism from some, while others detailed the Israeli lobby's influence.

Shared by Hezvo Mpunga (2019-02-11). Support for Israel Divides Democrats, A Division Fomented by Republicans. therealnews.com Republican Senator Marco Rubio pushes a pro-Israel agenda, while new and younger Democrats question US support for the right-wing government in Israel, says Israeli-American journalist Mairav Zonszein

Fight Back (2019-02-09). Chicago rally demands 'U.S. hands off Venezuela!'. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – Over 50 activists gathered in Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago on the night of February 5, to rally in solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution. Organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), the event brought together progressive political organizations and trade unions to demand an end to U.S. aggression and threats of war with Venezuela. | Freezing rain did not dampen the energy of the crowd, as speakers called for solidarity with the Venezuelan people. Representatives of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and the International League of People's Struggle spoke on the context…

stuart_m (2019-02-08). Gaza rallies for Venezuela to oppose US coup. greenleft.org.au Hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of besieged Gaza on January 29 to show their support of the democratically-elected government of Venezuela and it's legitimate leader, President Nicolas Maduro. | Venezuela is struggling to defeat a coup attempt that is supported by the United States, Israel and many Western governments. | The relationship between Ve…

Robert Mackey (2019-02-08). Democrats Echo Israel's Far-Right by Refusing to Even Use the Word "Occupation" theintercept.com Israel's military rules over millions of disenfranchised Palestinians in territories it seized by force in 1967. Why can't Democrats call that what it is?

PACBI (2019-02-07). Lawsuit Dismissed Against American Studies Association Over Israel Boycott. bdsmovement.net Lawsuit Dismissed Against American Studies Association Over Israel Boycott: In the NewsUS federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to deter academic associations from adopting boycotts for Palestinian rights. | Academic Boycott Right To BoycottFebruary 5, 2019 | By: | | Palestine Legal

Consortiumnews (2019-02-07). The 'Progressive Except Palestine' Problem. consortiumnews.com The Jewish community has a special responsibility to fight Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, says Marjorie Cohn. By Marjorie Cohn Truthout As a progressive Jew, I find that many of my family members and friends are still what we… Read more →

Democracy Now! (2019-02-06). "Liar-in-Chief": Rep. Ilhan Omar Slams Trump's SOTU Remarks on Border, Venezuela, Israel & More. democracynow.org In his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Trump called for bipartisan unity while he attacked Democrats and the Robert Mueller investigation, denounced efforts to expand abortion rights in Virginia and New York, attacked immigrants and reiterated his demand for a border wall—with no mention of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which delayed his address by a week. Women in Congress wore all white to the speech in a nod to the movement for women's suffrage. After the address, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams made history, becoming the first African-Americ…

PACBI (2019-02-05). Palestinian Professors' Unions Urge Pitzer College to Uphold Faculty Vote to Suspend Study Abroad with Complicit Israeli Institutions. bdsmovement.net Palestinian Professors' Unions Urge Pitzer College to Uphold Faculty Vote to Suspend Study Abroad with Complicit Israeli Institutions: Open LetterThe Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE) urges Pitzer College to stand by an overwhelming majority of its faculty refusing to be complicit in Israel's denial of Palestinian rights and its blatan…

Janine Jackson (2019-02-04). 'Palestinian Rights Has Become an Incredibly Mainstream Issue' – CounterSpin interview with Josh Ruebner on BDS bans. fair.org Janine Jackson interviewed Josh Ruebner about BDS bans for the February 1, 2019, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…

splcenter (2019-01-30). Feds File Hate Crime Charges in Tree of Life Shooting, Cite Antisemitic Posts on Gab. splcenter.org Federal prosecutors are saying overtly for the first time that the man charged with killing 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue did so because he's antisemitic and his intended victims were Jewish.

SAMIR (2019-01-10). The BDS movement salutes Angela Davis. bdsmovement.net The BDS movement salutes Angela Davis : PACBI StatementThe Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement for Palestinian rights, salutJanuary 10, 2019 | By: | | Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)

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…

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…