2021-01-26: News Headlines

MEE and agencies (2021-01-26). In a new first, Israel's intelligence minister visits Sudan to advance relations. middleeasteye.net In a new first, Israel's intelligence minister visits Sudan to advance relations | Weeks after Khartoum signed a normalisation deal with Tel Aviv, Eli Cohen becomes the first ever Israeli minister to visit the African country | Tue, 01/26/2021 – 11: 35 | Israeli Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen (L) elbow-bumping Sudanese Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim in Sudan's capital Khartoum on 25 Janu…

Heba Nasser (2021-01-26). Jerusalem's main Palestinian hospital shuts its doors as union strikes. middleeasteye.net Jerusalem's main Palestinian hospital shuts its doors as union strikes | Hospital staff accuse the charity hospital's board of avoiding its responsibilities to resolve its financial crisis, as it buckles under a debt of $47m
| Tue, 01/26/2021 – 14: 10 | Built in 1968, al-Makassed has long been known as the "hospital of the poor" (MEE/Aseel Jundi) | Jerusalem's largest Palestinian hospital, al-Makass…

MEE staff (2021-01-26). Biden administration to restore aid to Palestinians, fix 'atrophied' relations. middleeasteye.net Biden administration to restore aid to Palestinians, fix 'atrophied' relations | Washington also plans to re-open shuttered Palestinian diplomatic missions, new US ambassador to UN tells Security Council | Tue, 01/26/2021 – 18: 14 | Palestinian children sit during a rally on 23 December to protest a reported reduction of food by UNRWA (AFP/File photo) | The Biden administration plans to re-open Palestinian dip…

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-26). The "humanitarian" left still ignores the lessons of Iraq, Libya and Syria to cheer on more war. mronline.org In fact, those weren't really separate horror shows: they were instalments of one long horror show.

Stephen Lendman (2021-01-26). Israel to Decide Fate of the JCPOA Nuclear Deal? globalresearch.ca According to Biden's secretary of state-designee Anthony Blinken, the new regime in town will keep much of its predecessor's geopolitical agenda in place. | Former usurper-in-waiting/self-designated interim Venezuelan president Guaido — no longer a National Assembly member — will still …

news.un (2021-01-26). UN ready to support Palestinian elections, new envoy tells Security Council. news.un.org Palestinian elections scheduled for later this year will be a crucial step towards unity, the new UN envoy in the region, Tor Wennesland, said on Tuesday in his first briefing to the Security Council.

news.un (2021-01-26). UN rights experts urge Israel to respect international obligations. news.un.org UN independent rights experts on Tuesday, described Israel's conviction of human rights defender Issa Amro earlier this month, as showing disdain for the country's international obligations.

VINS (2021-01-26). Pro-BDS Activists Blacklisted and Labeled as Terrorist Supporters by Canary Mission. projectcensored.org Created in 2015, the anonymously-run, pro-Israel website CanaryMission.org aims to "document individuals and organizations that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses." The site is being used to…

MEE and agencies (2021-01-25). Covid-19: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest over lockdown rules. middleeasteye.net Covid-19: Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis protest over lockdown rules | Anger has mounted as the government has moved to close illegal religious schools and seminaries | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 10: 16 | Policemen detain an ultra-Orthodox Jew during a protest over coronavirus restrictions in Ashdod, Israel on 24 January 2021 (Reuters) | Hundreds of members of Israel's ultra-Orthodox community…

Global Research News (2021-01-25). Selected Articles: Eurostar Train Near Collapse, Biden's Policy on Israel & Latin America, The Nuclear Ban Treaty. globalresearch.ca By Shutting down an economy flatly contradicts a founding principle of the WHO: "Economic development and public health are inseparable and complementary… the social, …

RT (2021-01-25). Facebook BLOCKS Israeli PM Netanyahu's chatbot over 'offending post'. rt.com Facebook has suspended a chatbot used by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which asked unvaccinated seniors to give it their phone number for a potential 'surprise' call from the PM. | In a video posted to Twitter last week, Netanyahu encouraged Israeli seniors to get vaccinated, and told his followers: "If you know someone who is nervous about getting vaccinated, send me their name and phone number, maybe they'll get a surprise phone call from me and I'll convince them." | ◊ê◊ ◊ô ◊®◊ï◊¶◊î ◊ú◊¢◊ï◊ì&loz…

Shatha Hammad (2021-01-25). Masafer Yatta: A Palestinian community under pressure. middleeasteye.net Masafer Yatta: A Palestinian community under pressure | The Israeli army shooting that left Harun Abu Aram paralysed has once again brought to light the difficult living conditions in the West Bank hamlets | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 15: 50 | 'I keep having dreams that the [Israeli] army has come back and destroyed our house again,' Adham, eight, says (MEE/Shatha Hammad) | More than three weeks after he wa…

Mohammad Ayesh (2021-01-25). Arabic press review: Egypt army arrests officers suspected of embezzlement. middleeasteye.net Arabic press review: Egypt army arrests officers suspected of embezzlement | Meanwhile, Kuwait cancels 60,000 travel reservations over fears of new Covid-19 variant, and Palestinians call for release of relatives held in Saudi Arabia | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 17: 58 | Egyptian soldiers stand guard at Cairo University on 25 March 2018 in central Cairo, ahead of March presidential election (AFP/File pho…

Maha Hussaini (2021-01-25). 'Vaccination apartheid': Gaza struggling with Covid-19 infections while Israel rolls out jab. middleeasteye.net 'Vaccination apartheid': Gaza struggling with Covid-19 infections while Israel rolls out jab | Gaza braces for more avoidable deaths with delayed vaccination rollout and an overwhelmed health system | Mon, 01/25/2021 – 11: 08 | A hospital staff member gets tested for coronavirus in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on 31 August 2020 (AFP/file photo) | In the intensive care unit of the European Gaza…

Eds. (2021-01-25). 'We're taking responsibility': Sixty teens announce refusal to serve in Israeli army. mronline.org Dozens of Israeli teens sign public letter objecting to military service over Israel's policies of apartheid, neoliberalism, and denial of the Nakba.

Staff (2021-01-25). Islamic Official Shot and Killed in Israel. imemc.org On Sunday afternoon, a Palestinian official identified as Sheikh Muhammad Abu Najem, was shot and killed in the city of Jaffa, in the western part of Israel. The Hamas party issued a statement blaming Israel for the murder. Israeli police in Jaffa say they opened an investigation into the shooting, but have not identified any …

Ali Salam (2021-01-25). Israeli Forces Shoot & Injure Farmer in Northern Gaza. imemc.org Israeli forces stationed at the northern border of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a Palestinian farmer working on his land in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a gunshot wound in his head. The injured farmer was taken to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where his wound was described …

Al-Shabaka (2021-01-25). Confronting Total Collapse in Israeli-Occupied Gaza: Division and COVID-19. juancole.com By Ali Abdel-Wahab | — ( Al-Shabaka ) — Gaza has always been unique among the different parts of Palestine. Its current particularity stems from being caught between three major variables exacerbating its collapse: the Israeli occupation, division in Palestinian leadership, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This reality raises socio-political questions about the role of these …

Philip Weiss (2021-01-25). Biden's Secretary of State Praises Trump's Achievements on Israel. globalresearch.ca A new administration has taken over Washington with talk of justice, respect and diversity. However, when it comes to Israel-Palestine the news isn't so encouraging. | Joe Biden's foreign policy team says it wants to return to the Iran deal, but …

Raul Diego (2021-01-25). Despite His Attempt to Tie MAGA to Anti-Semitism, Biden Will Preserve Trump's "Israel First" Legacy. mintpressnews.com Many are expecting President Joe Biden to roll back Trump's heavily pro-Israel policies, but several factors — including his long-established ties to Israeli interests— point to a greater likelihood of their continuation instead.

Gershon Baskin (2021-01-25). There is an opportunity for Palestinian democracy with elections. zcomm.org While there is a great deal of skepticism regarding whether or not the elections will actually take place, there is already a flurry of action on the ground of initiatives to launch new political parties and jockey for positions within the existing political frameworks…

Rima Najjar (2021-01-25). Joe Biden's Policy on Israel Isn't "Transformative" or "Decent" globalresearch.ca Many are noting happily that Joe Biden's flurry of executive orders are "surprisingly" progressive … and decent. In an

Dr. Ludwig Watzal (2021-01-25). A Totalitarian Regime Is Coming to America? Or Is It Just an Old Ball Game? globalresearch.ca Dutch-Jewish historian Jacques Presser remarked as early as 1947: "Fascism, should it ever return, will undoubtedly present itself in the guise of anti-fascism." Having watched the surreal inauguration, the Green Zone in Baghdad popped up. The occupation in Washington was …

MEE staff (2021-01-24). Israel allows US to deploy Iron Dome missile defence system in the Gulf: Report. middleeasteye.net Israel allows US to deploy Iron Dome missile defence system in the Gulf: Report | Israeli officials refuse to reveal in which countries the system will be deployed, according to Israeli newspaper | Sun, 01/24/2021 – 11: 21 | Report of US deal on Iron Domes comes against backdrop of Israel's normalisation accords with the UAE and Bahrain (AFP) | The United States is expected to soon begin deploying the Israeli-…

MEE staff (2021-01-24). UAE, Bahrain rulers on hunting trip to Pakistan amid Covid-19 pandemic: Reports. middleeasteye.net UAE, Bahrain rulers on hunting trip to Pakistan amid Covid-19 pandemic: Reports | Visit comes after deterioration in UAE relations with Islamabad heightened by differences over ties with Israel | Sun, 01/24/2021 – 12: 34 | Hunters kill the houbara bustard for sport and also because its meat is supposed to have aphrodisiac qualities (AFP) | The crown prince of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain's king a…

MEE staff (2021-01-24). Biden administration vows to consult with Israel on 'all' regional issues. middleeasteye.net Biden administration vows to consult with Israel on 'all' regional issues | New US administration voices 'unwavering commitment to Israel's security' in first official call with Israeli government | Sun, 01/24/2021 – 16: 14 | Biden has previously promised to continue unconditional US military aid to Israel (AFP/File photo) | In the first official contact between the new US administration and the Israeli govern…

IMEMC News (2021-01-24). Israeli Colonists Attack Palestinian Journalists Near Hebron. imemc.org A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonists attacked, on Saturday evening, Palestinian journalists who were documenting their seriously escalating violations, near Susiya illegal colony, south of Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank. The WAFA Palestinian News Agency said the colonists attacked two of its journalists, identified as Mashhour al-Wihwah and …

IMEMC News (2021-01-24). Israeli Colonists Close Main Junction Near Bethlehem. imemc.org Many illegal fanatic Israeli colonists closed, on Saturday evening, the Gush Etzion Junction, south of Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, blocking Palestinian traffic. Eyewitnesses said the colonists gathered at the junction while carrying Israeli flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans. They added that the colonists blocked all Palestinian traffic on the main …

IMEMC News (2021-01-24). Worker Dies After Soldiers Fired Gas Bombs, And Chased Palestinians Near Tulkarem. imemc.org A Palestinian worker died, on Sunday morning, near the illegal Annexation Wall, in Far'un village, south of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, after the soldiers chased many Palestinians and fired gas bombs at them. Palestinian medical sources said Fuad Sabti Jouda, 48, from Iraq at-Tayeh village, east of the northern West Bank city …

IMEMC News (2021-01-24). Soldiers Abduct Three Palestinians, Detonate Their Car, Near Jenin. imemc.org Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday at dawn, three Palestinians, and detonated their car, near Jenin, in northern West Bank. Montaser Sammour, the head of the Jenin office of the Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) said the soldiers invaded Qabatia town, south of the city, before abducting Ahmad Abu ar-Rob, Jihad Abu ar-Rob, and Majdi Kamil. Sammour …

teleSUR (2021-01-24). UAE To Set up Embassy in Israel's Tel Aviv. telesurenglish.net The Council of Ministers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved the establishment of the UAE embassy in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel, the UAE government's official Twitter said on Sunday. | During the cabinet meeting on Sunday, the decision was made chaired by UAE's Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. | The UAE and Israel normalized bilateral ties with Abraham Accord's signing in September last year in Washington. | Since then, several delegations from the UAE and Israel have met to sign bilateral agreements on trade and investment, tourism, direc…

Doug Neiss (2021-01-24). Anti-Semitism and Israel: Right-wing Zionists play a deadly word game. salon.com An expanded definition of "anti-Semitism" is primarily meant to silence Jewish critics of Israel. It won't work…

Nasim Ahmed (2021-01-24). Israel is an apartheid state, says B'Tselem. zcomm.org Time to ditch the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism?

_____ (2021-01-24). Why Calling Israel An Apartheid State Is Not Enough. popularresistance.org B'Tselem, a leading human rights group in Israel, recently released a report concluding that Israel is an apartheid state, with a regime of Jewish supremacy stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. | The report found that Israel meets the definition of apartheid under international law, which defines apartheid as "inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them". | The report received widespread international media attention and was described as a "watershed"

Steven Sahiounie (2021-01-24). Double Suicide Bombing: Baghdad Blast Responsibility in Question. globalresearch.ca A deadly double suicide bombing ripped through a second-hand clothing market in Tayaran Square, located in Bab Al-Sharqi commercial district of Baghdad on Thursday. Hassan Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Iraq's Health Minister, said at least 32 people were killed and 110 others …

IMEMC News (2021-01-23). Several Palestinians Injured In Beit Hanoun Explosion. imemc.org The Interior Ministry in Gaza has reported that many Palestinians were injured, on Saturday morning, in an explosion, east of Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. The Ministry said the causes of the explosion are still under investigation and added that the medics moved eight Palestinians to the Indonesian Hospital, in northern Gaza. The explosion caused …

IMEMC News (2021-01-23). Israeli Army Injures Fifteen Palestinians Near Nablus. imemc.org Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the nonviolent procession in Beit Dajan village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and injured sixteen Palestinians, in addition to causing dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation. The Palestinians marched from the village heading towards their lands, where illegal Israeli colonists installed an outpost, three months …

IMEMC News (2021-01-23). Palestinian Journalist Released After Seven Months in Prison Without Charges. imemc.org Israeli military authorities, which govern the Palestinians in the West Bank under martial law, released Palestinian journalist Mujahed al-Saadi Friday after he was imprisoned for seven months without charges. Al-Saadi was held in so-called 'administrative detention', a euphemism used by Israeli authorities used when they hold Palestinians for extended periods with no charges against them. He …

Media Lens (2021-01-23). "A Ghastly Future"? Israeli Apartheid, Biden, Starmer, Assange and Mass Extinction. dissidentvoice.org Back in 2017, before WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange was silenced by Twitter, he used the platform to highlight an immutable truth: 'The overwhelming majority of information is classified to protect political security not national security.' Power hates being exposed. It hates having its inner machinations, its selfish priorities and ugly operations opened up to public …

IMEMC News (2021-01-23). Dozens Of Palestinians Injured In Beit Hanoun Explosion. imemc.org Updated: The Interior Ministry in Gaza has reported that dozens of Palestinians were injured, on Saturday morning, in an explosion, east of Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. The Ministry said the causes of the explosion are still under investigation and added that the medics moved at least 27 Palestinians to the Indonesian Hospital, in northern …

Eds. (2021-01-23). Anger grows within Labour over role of ex-Israeli military intelligence official. mronline.org Senior figures raise concerns over appointment of Assaf Kaplan, who formerly served in unit accused of blackmailing Palestinian civilians.