Daily Archives: August 27, 2020

2020-08-27: News Headlines

Gareth Porter (2020-08-27). After Beirut Blast, Israel Revives Tales of Hezbollah Ammonium Nitrate Terror Plots. globalresearch.ca Israeli intelligence is polishing off a dubious propaganda campaign to suggest Hezbollah was to blame for the recent catastrophe in Beirut. But the factual record either contradicts Israeli claims or reveals a complete dearth of evidence. | *** | Israeli officials have …

Kathryn Shihadah (2020-08-27). Decades of Land Grabs Betray Israel's "Terror Balloon" Justification for Latest War on Gaza. mintpressnews.com Just as with the last three major Israeli incursions into Gaza, Israel's stated motive — to stop incoming projectiles — conceals a long-term ambition: to seize more land with fewer Palestinians on it.

_____ (2020-08-27). Israel's Crimes Must Be Met With Arms Embargo. popularresistance.org Israel's bombing of the besieged Gaza Strip must be met with an "urgent and comprehensive military embargo," the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee stated on Sunday. | Israel has bombed Gaza every night for the past 12 days in response, or so it claims, to incendiary balloons flown from the territory. Those balloons have caused fires on agricultural land in southern Israel. | Two-thirds of Gaza's population of 2.1 million are refugees, some of them from the lands just on the other side of the Gaza boundary fence. Israel denies them their right to return, enshrined in international la…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-08-27). Netanyahu vs Gantz: Gaza Escalation as Reflection of Israel's Political Rivalry. dissidentvoice.org Only recently, the Palestinian group, Hamas, and Israel seemed close to reaching a prisoner exchange agreement, where Hamas would release several Israeli soldiers held in Gaza while Israel would set free an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. Instead of the much-anticipated announcement of some kind of a deal, on August 10, …

Gershon Baskin (2020-08-27). Judaism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and me. zcomm.org Our life together in Israel requires us to know each other, to respect each other, and to live and let live without coercion and without violence…

yenisafak (2020-08-27). US' Pompeo pays surprise visit to Oman. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Oman Thursday for an unannounced stopover."Arrived in Oman and will meet with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said," Pompeo wrote on his Twitter account.Before Oman, Pompeo paid a visit Israel, Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his Mideast tour."I look forward to discussing efforts to build unity among the Gulf Cooperation Council and build on the momentum to advance regional peace and prosperity," Pompeo added.Although his visit was not announced by the State Department, some media reports revealed that Pompeo is visiting two countries within…

David Hearst (2020-08-27). Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Pulls Out of Planned Meeting in Washington with Netanyahu. globalresearch.ca The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, pulled out of a planned visit to Washington DC next week to meet the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he feared that the news had leaked and that his …

Anya Parampil (2020-08-26). Israel bombs Gaza every day since UAE normalization announced. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil speaks with Ali Abunimah, co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, about the recent announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates plan to normalize relations. They discuss the conditions which led to the deal as well as what the agreement will mean for Palestinians, particularly those in the besieged Gaza Strip.

_____ (2020-08-26). Over 40 Protests Across The UK On #StopArmingIsrael Day Of Action. popularresistance.org Hundreds have taken to the streets in dozens of towns and cities to call for an end to the UK's complicity in Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people, on the 6 year anniversary of the end of Israel's aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza. The protests come as Israel has conducted a renewed bombardment of Gaza, which remains under a crippling land, air and sea blockade. | The 2014 attack killed over 2,200 Palestinians in 51 days, nearly a quarter of whom were children. The UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza conflict found credible allegations that Israel committed war crimes throu…

yenisafak (2020-08-26). Coronavirus outbreak kills 1, sickens 8 in Gaza. yenisafak.com Health authorities in the blockaded Gaza Strip on Wednesday registered one death and eight cases from the coronavirus pandemic.The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said a 61-year-old Palestinian died from the virus, while eight people were infected, bringing the total number of cases in the enclave since Monday to 15.On Monday, authorities in the enclave imposed a two-day lockdown as part of measures to stem the virus' spread.Previous infections were reported from inside quarantine centers for arrivals to Gaza.*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-08-26). Netanyahu vs Gantz: Gaza Escalation as Reflection of Israel's Political Rivalry. commondreams.org An explosion goes off during an airstrike carried out by Israeli warplanes. (Photo: Mohammed Talatene/picture alliance via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gazaairstrike.jpg

Ramzy Baroud (2020-08-26). Netanyahu vs. Gantz: Gaza escalation reflects Israel's political rivalry. peoplesworld.org Only recently, the Palestinian group, Hamas, and Israel seemed close to reaching a prisoner exchange agreement, where Hamas would release several Israeli soldiers held in Gaza while Israel would set free an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. Instead of the much-anticipated announcement of some kind of a deal, on August 10 …

Robert Fantina (2020-08-26). US Elections 2020 and the Corporate Media. globalresearch.ca Irony is dead, or at least one might think so by observing several articles about Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar's recent re-nomination. Article after article references her statement that U.S. officials' support for Israel is "all about the Benjamins", and …

South Front (2020-08-26). Video: Massive Explosion Rocks Syria's Arab Gas Pipeline. Terrorist Attack. globalresearch.ca A large explosion rocked the Arab Gas Pipeline in Syria on August 24 causing a blackout in the country's capital Damascus and multiple other cities and towns. | The explosion occurred between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra the a …

WSWS (2020-08-26). Pompeo in Middle East to cement Israel-Gulf alliance against Iran. wsws.org Pompeo made it very clear who was the master in this relationship and that China's increasing trade and investment ties with Israel were unacceptable.

sputniknews (2020-08-26). Russia, Iran, Turkey Issue Joint Statement on Syria Condemning Israeli Attacks, US Theft of Oil. sputniknews.com The statement was formulated on the sidelines of the meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, a United Nations-facilitated negotiating platform aimed at reconciling the Syrian government and the opposition and establishing an enduring peace in the war-torn country.

yenisafak (2020-08-26). Pompeo in UAE says hopeful to build on UAE-Israel accord momentum. yenisafak.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a short visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday as part of a Middle East tour following a U.S.-brokered deal on normalising relations between Israel and the UAE announced on Aug. 13."Excited to arrive in the United Arab Emirates and congratulate the Emirati people on the historic Abraham Accords— the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years. Hopeful we will‚ÄØ build on this momentum towards regional peace," Pompeo said on Twitter, referring to the UAE-Israel agreement aimed at normalising relations.Pompeo visited…

Staff (2020-08-25). Headlines for August 25, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Claims Dems Trying to Steal Election, Biden Will "Destroy" Country, as RNC Kicks Off, WI Calls in National Guard as Protests Intensify over Police Shooting of Unarmed Black Man, FDA Head Says Plasma Treatment Results Were Overstated as Schools Grapple with Reopening, Hong Kong COVID-19 Patient Becomes Reinfected; Reports of Brutal Repression in Xinjiang Pandemic Response, Gaza Goes into Lockdown After New COVID-19 Cases; Libyan Doctors Warn System Can't Cope with Pandemic, Death Toll in Climate-Fueled California Wildfires Climbs to 7 as 600+ Blazes Burn Across the State, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Fails…

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-08-25). As Israeli Bombing of Gaza Continues, US Media Show Little Interest. commondreams.org Mainstream outlets are largely ignoring the IDF's near-daily attacks, which began in early August. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gaza1_0.jpg

Peadar O'Cearnaigh (2020-08-25). Not that you'd know from watching the mainstream media, but Israel is bombing Gaza. Again. thecanary.co The Gaza strip has been under

Ramzy Baroud (2020-08-25). 'People of the Cave': Palestinians Take Their Fight for Justice to the Mountains. counterpunch.org Palestinians are not going anywhere. This is the gist of seven decades of Palestinian struggle against Zionist colonialism. The proof? The story of Ahmed Amarneh. Amarneh, a 30-year-old civil engineer from the northern West Bank village of Farasin, lives with his family in a cave. For many years, the Amarneh family has attempted to build

RT (2020-08-25). Reports of gunfire & explosions as IDF launches flares in response to 'security incident' at Lebanese border (PHOTO, VIDEOS). rt.com The Israeli military said it responded to a "security incident" along the border with Lebanon, firing off a barrage of flares amid reports of explosions and gunfire in the area. | The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Following a…

RT (2020-08-25). Pompeo finds himself under investigation after speaking at Republican convention from Israel. rt.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to record a speech for the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem has angered Democrats and the US foreign policy establishment, who are calling it unethical and maybe illegal. | Pompeo is currently on a tour of the Middle East. He left Israel for Sudan on Tuesday morning, but not before he recorded a message from Jerusalem that is scheduled to be shown at the Republican party convention later in the day. The message is supposed to be in his "personal capacity" but the Democrats and foreign policy think-tanks in Washington, DC aren't buying it. | "He doesn't…

Marco Carnelos (2020-08-25). What does UAE stand to gain from peace with Israel? thealtworld.com Abu Dhabi's crown prince may be surprised to discover that the signing of a peace deal with Netanyahu is not enough to buy Israel's trust | Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince While it is true that most of his regional "initiatives" have not been fully successful, he, nonetheless, remains committed to "saving" the Arab world from two existential threats: Iran and its Axis of Resistance, and the ol…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-08-25). 'People of the Cave': Palestinians Take Their Fight for Justice to the Mountains. commondreams.org Ahmed Amarne's wife sits on a couch with their daughter inside their cave house in Jenin, West Bank on August 12, 2020. (Photo: Issam Rimawi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/westbankcave.jpg

Comitato No Nato No Guerra (2020-08-25). Appello Ai Leader Dei Nove Stati Con Armi Nucleari (Cina, Francia, India, Israele, Nord Corea, Pakistan, Regno Unito, Russia, Stati Uniti). globalresearch.ca Noi, persone di buona volontà di tutti i ceti sociali, di tutti i continenti, di credo e religioni diverse, richiamiamo la vostra attenzione sulla minaccia di una guerra nucleare totale che puà≤ scoppiare molto facilmente a causa di azioni deliberate …

news.un (2020-08-25). Israel's accord with United Arab Emirates an opportunity to unlock progress on wider Middle East peace efforts, UN envoy says. news.un.org The recent agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has the potential to change dynamics across the Middle East, the UN's top envoy in the region told the Security Council on Tuesday, urging Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in efforts to resolve their protracted conflict.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-25). Ehsan Hajsafi to join Greece's Aris Thessaloniki. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 25 (MNA) — A Greek website has reported that the Iranian midfielder, Ehsan Hajsafi, who plays for Tractor Sazi, will leave his team in case it loses the semi-final match at the Iranian Hazfi Cup.

sputniknews (2020-08-25). Video: IDF Says 'Security Incident' Has Unfolded Along Israeli-Lebanese Border. sputniknews.com Flares were spotted Tuesday around Manara, a kibbutz in northern Israel, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed there was a "security incident" along the country's border with Lebanon.

sputniknews (2020-08-25). UAE Reportedly Calls Off Trilateral Meeting With US, Israel Over F-35 Sale. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The United Arab Emirates has reportedly cancelled the planned trilateral meeting with the United States and Israel in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to the US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Abu Dhabi, the Axios news portal reported, citing informed sources.

sputniknews (2020-08-25). Israeli, US Delegations to Visit UAE Next Week for Normalization Talks – PM's Office. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US and Israeli official delegations will travel to the United Arab Emirates next week to promote a normalization between the two major American allies in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Tuesday.

sputniknews (2020-08-25). Iran Blasts Pompeo for Trying to 'Flood Region With US Weapons' Amid Talk of More Arms for UAE. sputniknews.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, where he promised to "continue to honour" the US commitment to ensure Israel's "qualitative military edge" against its neighbours. Pompeo made the comments amid reports that the US is looking to sell F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.

yenisafak (2020-08-25). Pompeo flies to Sudan on 1st direct flight from Israel. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flew from Israel to Sudan on Tuesday, in the first direct flight between Tel Aviv and Khartoum. | "Happy to announce that we are on the FIRST official NONSTOP flight from Israel to Sudan!" Pompeo said on Twitter. | According to The New York Times, the direct flight between Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport and Khartoum came as "Pompeo's plane obtained special permission". | In a statement, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo will discuss with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok and Chairman of the Transitional Military Council Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan "continu…

_____ (2020-08-24). Pressure On Netanyahu Mounts As Israel Bombs Gaza Again. popularresistance.org Embattled Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing pressure at home and abroad amid his government's continued bombing of the Gaza strip. With protests in both Jerusalem and the UK, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has continued. And the Israeli PM is refusing to back down on all fronts. The PA news agency reported that on Saturday 22 August, thousands of protesters marched on Netanyahu's residence in central Jerusalem. They were protesting over his continued tenure as prime minister. The demonstrations came amid a backdrop of a summer of protests, centered around Netanyahu's government's handling of…

Juan Cole (2020-08-24). Tens of Thousands Protest Netanyahu as Momentum Grows and Gov't Faces Collapse. zcomm.org The rallies disproved the allegation of pro-Netanyahu pundits that the recognition of Israel by the United Arab Emirates would be recognized as a major diplomatic achievement for the prime minister and would cause the demonstrations to fizzle…

Raul Diego (2020-08-24). Hoping to Seize on UAE-Israel Deal, Pompeo and Kushner Head East in Search of New Allies for Israel. mintpressnews.com Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Trump adviser Jared Kushner are hitting the road in an attempt to strong-arm more Arab states into normalizing relations with Israel, turning their backs on Palestine and isolating Iran.

Abdul Rahman (2020-08-24). UAE-Israel deal is yet another dagger in Palestine's back. peoplesdispatch.org The UAE-Israel deal is a violation of the Arab country's commitments to not establish relationships with the Zionist entity till the concerns of the Palestinians are addressed…

Finian Cunningham (2020-08-24). F-35 Bailout Behind 'Peace'. thealtworld.com No sooner had the news broken of a "historic" peace accord between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, then came reports of the Arab country's purchase of the American F-35 stealth combat jet. | The UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash told reporters last week that the oil-rich Gulf state had now earned the right to buy the F-35 because it was at peace with Israel. "We have legitimate requests… We ought to get them… the whole idea of a state of belligerency or war with Israel no longer exists," said Gargash. | Plans for the purchase were also confirmed by US President Donald Trump who said the UAE was seeking…

Miko Peled (2020-08-24). Just "Arabs killing Arabs": Israel's Inaction Over Palestinian Murders Gets Frustrated Moms Marching. mintpressnews.com In 2019, there were 138 murder cases throughout the state of Israel. Out of those, 93 were Palestinian citizens of Israel, a community that makes up only 20 percent of Israeli citizens.

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-24). No deal can legitimize the Zionist regime: Khaled al- Qaddumi. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (MNA)— Hamas' Representative in Iran said that the Israeli regime still is in intense need of recognition by minor countries in the region despite support from super powers, the UN secretary-general and Europeans.

_____ (2020-08-24). The Seven Dangerous Paradoxes of Kamala Harris. strategic-culture.org A lot of theoretical nonsense is already being talked about the multiple meanings of Joe Biden's pick of California Senator Kalama Harris as his vice-presidential running mate: She will be a tool for Israel, she will be an opening for reform, she will signify a new era, she will cunningly allow the neo-conservatives to infiltrate the Democratic Party. | All of it is nonsense, especially the last conspiracy theory. The neo-conservatives have no chance of penetrating either Harris or any possible Biden administration because their rival neoliberals — who hold identical views anyway but genuinely think they ar…

yenisafak (2020-08-24). Netanyahu, Pompeo discuss Arab-Israeli normalization. yenisafak.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks Monday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who arrived in Israel as part of a regional tour. | The talks dwelt on the normalization of ties between Israel and other Arab states following this month's US-sponsored deal to normalize relations between Tel Aviv and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | "I discussed with Secretary of State Pompeo the possibility of normalizing additional countries' relations with Israel, and I hope that there will be good news in the near future," Netanyahu told a joint press conference. | He said the Israel-UAE deal "opened a new p…