Daily Archives: October 29, 2020

2020-10-29: News Headlines

MEE staff (2020-10-29). Twitter suspends Palestinian accounts shortly after Israeli ministry report on 'phony' profiles. middleeasteye.net Twitter suspends Palestinian accounts shortly after Israeli ministry report on 'phony' profiles | Social media giant says accounts were 'amplifying the dissemination of information' that violated its terms of service | Thu, 10/29/2020 – 12: 24 | Sada Social has been recording and monitoring the suspension of Palestinian content and accounts on Twitter and Facebook since September 2017 (AFP) | Twitter has suspe…

Hamada Fara'na (2020-10-29). The Palestinians must try to win over disillusioned Israelis to their cause. zcomm.org Winning over those Israelis who are disillusioned with the way that their government is going ever more to the extreme right can help to tip the balance in the Palestinians' favour. When that starts to happen, anything is possible…

Richard Falk (2020-10-29). The Politics of Hunger Strikes. zcomm.org The inspirational example of the Irish hunger strikers who did not abandon their quest for elemental justice at the doorstep of death was not lost on the Palestinians…

Anya Parampil (2020-10-28). Bolivia calls to investigate OAS for fraud and coup: Interview with Evo's Foreign Minister Diego Pary. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone briefly spoke with Bolivia's former foreign minister under Evo Morales, Diego Pary Rodríguez. He called for an investigation into the OAS for fraud and backing a coup, rejected Juan Guaidó, and expressed solidarity with Palestine. By Anya Parampil and Ben Norton We spoke with Bolivia's former foreign minister under Evo Morales, Diego Pary. He called for an investigation into the OAS for fraud and backing a coup, rejected Juan Guaidó, and expressed solidarity with Palestine. Interview by @AnyaParampil …

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-28). US versus Russia in Syria. "A Fake 'Revolution' Using Islamic Gangs" globalresearch.ca At the request of Syria's government in September 2015, Russia intervened in the country to combat ISIS and other US/NATO/Israeli-backed jihadists. | Moscow's freedom-fighting operations turned the tide of battle, enabling Syrian forces to liberate most parts of the country. | Most …

_____ (2020-10-28). UK Universities Reject Israel Lobby's Anti-Semitism Definition. popularresistance.org Only a minority of UK universities have adopted the misleading and politically motivated definition of anti-Semitism promoted by Israel and its lobby. | Despite repeated British government threats, fewer than 22 percent of higher education establishments have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's "working definition" of anti-Semitism. | The IHRA definition has been repeatedly condemned by free speech defenders, Palestinians, Jewish activists, Palestine solidarity, Black and Asian groups.

Sally Abed (2020-10-28). Palestinian Maher Al-Akhras Demands: Freedom or Death. thenation.com Palestinian Maher Al-Akhras Demands: Freedom or Death…

Adam Khalil (2020-10-28). Israel normalisation with Sudan 'deals blow' to Hamas in Gaza. middleeasteye.net Israel normalisation with Sudan 'deals blow' to Hamas in Gaza | Palestinian sources claim movement's procurement of weapons affected, though others say arms route dried up long ago | Wed, 10/28/2020 – 12: 22 | Ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir (R) meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at the Nur mosque in Khartoum on 30 December 2011 (AFP) | The normalisation agreement between Israel and Sudan…

_____ (2020-10-28). The U.S. Just Blackmailed Sudan. strategic-culture.org Washington has proven that it is willing to make people suffer, and even starve, if governments don't acquiesce to normalization with Israel, writes As`ad AbuKhalil. | As`ad ABUKHALIL | The recent announcement that Washington would be lifting U.S. sanctions on Sudan in return for Sudan's normalization with Israel is a case study of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. | Sudan, like Somalia, has long been a battleground for Cold War intrigues by the U.S., which is responsible for the massive export of arms to both countries. Like the longtime Somali dictator, Muhammad Siad Barre, Sudan's Jaafar Nimeiry (1969-19…

MEE staff (2020-10-28). Dubai to sell Israeli wine made in occupied Golan Heights. middleeasteye.net Dubai to sell Israeli wine made in occupied Golan Heights | The Israeli wine, manufactured by the Golan Heights Winery, is set to be distributed by UAE company African + Eastern from next week | Wed, 10/28/2020 – 13: 41 | A worker pours wine into a barrel at the Psagot Winery in the Israeli illegal settlement of Psagot, near the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah, on 19 November 2019 (AFP) | Israeli and Em…

Sheren Khalel (2020-10-28). US lawmakers to introduce bill that may allow Israel to buy bunker-buster bombs. middleeasteye.net US lawmakers to introduce bill that may allow Israel to buy bunker-buster bombs | Bipartisan group's legislation would allow Israel to buy munitions capable of penetrating Iran's underground nuclear infrastructure | Wed, 10/28/2020 – 16: 31 | Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busters are designed to be dropped by B-2 bombers like this one at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia (Reuters/File photo)…

Taylor Dafoe (2020-10-28). The Museum of Islamic Arts Has Halted a Planned Sotheby's Sale of Its Treasures After It Was Condemned by Israel's President. globalresearch.ca A Sotheby's auction of rare objects from the Museum of Islamic Arts in Jerusalem has been halted at the last minute following an outcry from the Israeli government and culture officials. | One hundred and ninety Islamic artifacts from the museum's …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-28). Israeli security forces arrest Palestinian journalist in night raid. peoplesdispatch.org In the latest assault on Palestinian journalists, Israeli security forces on Tuesday, October 27, arrested Palestinian journalist-filmmaker Abdelrahman al-Thaher from his home in the occupied West Bank. According to al-Thaher's wife, Rasha al-Sayeh, the Israeli forces conducted a search for him at 2 AM in their neighborhood. They searched their house and went through the journalist's personal belongings. The Israeli soldiers finally arrested him without providing any reason or cause. | Al-Thaher had reportedly also been arrested by the Palestinian preventive security agency in August this year while he was leavin…

Mehr News Agency (2020-10-28). Ali Karimi on verge of signing with Qatar SC. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Oct. 28 (MNA) — Iranian midfielder Ali Karimi is reportedly close to signing contract with Qatar SC.

CFJPIME (2020-10-28). "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)" against Israel: Resolution of Defamation Lawsuit by CJPME. globalresearch.ca Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce that its defamation lawsuit with Ezra Levant and Rebel Media News Network Ltd. has been settled. Launched in 2016, CJPME's suit was based on a series …

Ralph Nader (2020-10-27). Don't Rush to Declare Victory: Implementing a Two-Week Grace Period After November 3rd So All Voters Can Be Counted. commondreams.org With such large stakes for our fragile democracy, we cannot afford to bypass such a course of action that will assure a peaceful transition in accord with the rule of law. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/early.jpg

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-27). US Sanctions: Shooting Blanks Against the Resiliency of Targeted Nations. globalresearch.ca As explained many times before, Security Council members alone may legally impose sanctions on nations, entities and individuals. | When used by countries against others, they breach the UN Charter, how the US, NATO and Israel operate time and again. | The …

MEE staff (2020-10-27). Israel arrests Palestinian journalist in West Bank. middleeasteye.net Israel arrests Palestinian journalist in West Bank | Filmmaker Abdelrahman al-Thaher one of more than 20 Palestinian journalists reportedly currently detained by Israel | Tue, 10/27/2020 – 12: 48 | Abdelrahman al-Thaher, 38, is Palestinian journalist and filmmaker from Nablus (Screengrab) | Israeli forces on Tuesday arrested Palestinian journalist and filmmaker Abdelrahman al-Thaher at his home in the city of…

MEE and agencies (2020-10-27). Saudi Arabia condemns conflation of 'Islam with terrorism' amid regional anti-France protests. middleeasteye.net Saudi Arabia condemns conflation of 'Islam with terrorism' amid regional anti-France protests | Riyadh did not comment on growing calls for a boycott of French goods in the Middle East after Paris had defended caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad | Tue, 10/27/2020 – 10: 45 | Palestinians burn a picture of French President Emmanuel Macron in Gaza City during a protest on 27 October 2020 (Reu…

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-10-27). Israel Chooses to Normalize Relations with Countries Which Have Directly Supported Terrorism. globalresearch.ca A new agreement of enormous importance to the Middle East has followed Israel's peace deals with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates — the normalization of relations between Israel and Sudan. The agreement marks a new direction in Israel's normalization …

Christian Noakes (2020-10-27). On prison hunger strike, Maher al-Akhras fights for all Palestinians. workers.org Maher al-Akhras, a 49-year-old Palestinian political prisoner and father of six from the Occupied West Bank, has been on hunger strike since his July 27 arrest by Israeli forces. He is under administrative detention — a practice both British and Israeli colonizers have long used to hold Palestinians captive indefinitely . . . |

Raul Diego (2020-10-27). From a Wealthy Socialite to an Israeli Govt Censor, Facebook's New "Free Speech Court" Is Anything but Independent. mintpressnews.com Freedom of speech on the Internet is all but extinct, and on the eve of the 2020 US elections, a de facto "free speech court" is going to make sure it never comes back. On Facebook at least.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-10-27). UN envoy demands independent investigation into Palestinian teenager's death. peoplesdispatch.org UN special envoy to the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov called for an investigation into the death of 18-year-old Amer Abdul-Rahim Snobar who was reportedly beaten heavily by Israeli soldiers, leading to his death…

_____ (2020-10-27). IADL Demands Immediate Release Of Palestinian Maher al-Akhras. popularresistance.org IADL calls for the immediate release of Maher al-Akhras, a Palestinian man and father of six, jailed by Israel without charge or trial. As IADL convenes its Council, al-Akhras has been on hunger strike for 91 days to protest his arbitrary detention and demand his freedom. His health condition is increasingly critical and his life is at grave risk. | Al-Akhras is jailed under Israel's policy of administrative detention, used routinely against Palestinians. These detention orders may be issued for up to six months at a time, and they are indefinitely renewable.

MEE staff (2020-10-26). Israeli bulldozers and settlers uproot Palestinian olive trees in West Bank. middleeasteye.net Israeli bulldozers and settlers uproot Palestinian olive trees in West Bank | Israeli forces razed almost 60 olive trees in the town of Salfit and also demolished a house in the village of Taybeh | Mon, 10/26/2020 – 10: 23 | Palestinians harvest olives from their land, which lies on the Israeli side of the separation wall in the West Bank, 30 October 2019 (AFP) | Israeli bulldozers demolished a Palestinian hou…

_____ (2020-10-26). Oxford Study Challenges Israel's Claims Concerning Palestinian Refugees. popularresistance.org There needs to be a fundamental change in the way Palestinian refugees are seen, no longer as victims but as people with rights who are entitled to shape their own destiny. This assertion is made in a new study whose importance cannot be overstated. | According to international law, Palestinian refugees have a right to return to their homes and land and receive restitution and compensation for their suffering and personal and communal losses. Furthermore, the State of Israel, which is responsible for Palestine's ethnic cleansing, must pay for the repatriation, the rehabilitation, and the rebuilding that the retur…

Miko Peled (2020-10-26). This is Why Israel's Mass Protest Movement Will Never Lead to Change. mintpressnews.com Though seldom reported in the US, thousands are taking to the streets every week in Israel demanding that Netanyahu step down, but carefully crafted coalition agreements and the political reality in the country promise to keep him in the PM's seat for the foreseeable future.

MEE and agencies (2020-10-26). Israeli museum postpones auction of rare Middle Eastern artifacts after outrage. middleeasteye.net Israeli museum postpones auction of rare Middle Eastern artifacts after outrage | The museum's primary donor said it hoped postponement will 'make it possible to reach agreements that will also be acceptable' to government officials | Mon, 10/26/2020 – 18: 19 | A pocket watch made for French Queen Marie Antoinette by famous watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet at the Museum for Islamic Art in…