2020-11-13: News Headlines

Richard Horton (2020-11-14). [Comment] Offline: A different kind of lockdown. thelancet.com In April, 2019, Dr Mai Alkaila became the first woman to be appointed Minister of Health in the occupied Palestinian territory. An obstetrician and gynaecologist by training, she later earned a PhD in health policy and systems. But she also had a taste for diplomacy and has served the State of Palestine as Ambassador to Chile and Italy. Perfect credentials, one might imagine, for a role that comes with already delicate political challenges. And then the COVID-19 pandemic struck. How was a divided land and a divided government under occupation going to handle a health emergency that was confounding even the most u…

Fred Fuentes (2020-11-13). Women of Steel: Check out upcoming screenings near you. greenleft.org.au Denied jobs at Wollongong's steelworks, working-class migrant women refused to accept discrimination. They began a campaign for the right to work that lasted for 14 years. Women of Steel tells their story, writes Kerry Smith.

Lyn Neeley (2020-11-13). After Defund Police victory, Portland keeps marching. workers.org Portland, Ore. After 170 days of uninterrupted protests against racism, fascism and police brutality, 82 percent of Portlanders have voted for a community oversight board to investigate and discipline cases of police violence. Rally for Black Lives Matter and to defend workers' rights, Portland, Ore., Nov. 8 Since the brutal . . . |

Rory Fanning (2020-11-13). Far Right Militias Are Recruiting Vets. We Must Organize Against This Trend. zcomm.org Challenging U.S. imperialism and combating white supremacy are part of the same struggle…

Refuse Fascism Bay Area (2020-11-13). Saturday 11/14: Biden's Win Is a Very Good Thing, But the Struggle Is Far From Over. indybay.org Powell & Market, San Francisco…

Dolores Perez Heilbron (2020-11-13). Sunday 11/29: Dr. Benjamin Madley, "An American Genocide" Zoom Presentation. indybay.org First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco | ZOOM PRESENTATION…

Richard Falk (2020-11-13). Making Sense of Hunger Strikes and Symbolic Politics. 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…

Prof. Marjorie Cohn (2020-11-12). Trump's Frivolous Lawsuits Are the Tip of the Iceberg in His Refusal to Concede. globalresearch.ca As masses of people poured into the streets to celebrate the end of Donald Trump's fascist rule, the lame duck president's lawyers were filing frivolous lawsuits in an attempt to nullify Joe Biden's victory. But none of these suits, …

Codepink (2020-11-12). CODEPINK Condemns False Accusations of Antisemitism Against GA Senate Candidate Rev. Warnock. zcomm.org As an organization committed to ending racism and militarism in the United States, as well as apartheid and injustice in Israel/Palestine, CODEPINK encourages Reverend Warnock to continue to speak out for freedom and equality for all in Palestine and Israel…

Ali Harb (2020-11-12). 'Antithesis of peace': Palestine advocates decry Israeli settlers' visit to UAE. middleeasteye.net 'Antithesis of peace': Palestine advocates decry Israeli settlers' visit to UAE | After visit to Dubai, right-wing settler leader Yossi Dagan says direct trade between settlements and UAE will start soon | Thu, 11/12/2020 – 22: 00 | 'Normalisation is betrayal,' reads mural in Palestinian West Bank city of Hebron (AFP/File photo) | Palestinian rights advocates condemned a visit by Israeli settlers to the United Ar…

Mehr News Agency (2020-11-12). Iran's support for Palestine 'a matter of faith'. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Nov. 12 (MNA) — A senior member of Hamas Islamic Resistance Movement said the martyrdom of General Soleimani indicated that Iran's support for Palestine and the ideals of the Palestinian people is not political hypocrisy but a firm belief.

MEE staff (2020-11-12). Groups critical of Israel to be branded 'antisemitic' under Pompeo plan: Report. middleeasteye.net Groups critical of Israel to be branded 'antisemitic' under Pompeo plan: Report | Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Oxfam and others would likely be targeted by campaign | Thu, 11/12/2020 – 18: 01 | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Jerusalem after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August (AFP/File photo) | The US State Department is expected to announce plans to create a ne…

Simon Hooper (2020-11-12). 'Hostile environment' supporter appointed to EHRC equality watchdog. middleeasteye.net 'Hostile environment' supporter appointed to EHRC equality watchdog | David Goodhart, who says he has 'grown used to being accused of racism even by my own children', appointed to Equality and Human Rights Commission board | Thu, 11/12/2020 – 14: 59 | David Goodhart described Black Lives Matter complaints of systemic racism in the UK as "statistically naive" (Screengrab) | The UK government has appoin…

Steve Sweeney (2020-11-12). South Africa's Communists condemn possible release of Chris Hani's assassin. peoplesworld.org The South African Communist Party (SACP) is voicing strong opposition to the application for the release of the murderer of its former general secretary Chris Hani. Janusz Walus was jailed for life for the 1993 killing, which took place while negotiations to end the country's racist apartheid system were at an advanced stage. Walus's latest …

Olujimi Alade (2020-11-12). Black Lives Matter — from Nigeria to the U.S. workers.org People protest against abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos, Nigeria, Oct. 12. As a Nigerian-American, I was very disappointed in myself for my lack of knowledge about #EndSARS protests in Nigeria that have captivated the world recently. (In Nigeria, SARS stands for the so-called "Special Anti-Robbery Squad" . . . |

Eds. (2020-11-12). Identity politics, the far right, and masks. mronline.org On the right, identity politics is leveraged to deliberately divide and fracture workers, pitting them against each other, most frequently on the basis of race, gender, religion, or nationality.

Ron Jacobs (2020-11-12). Fascism, Trumpism and the Future. counterpunch.org Fascism is both a symptom and the essence of capitalism in decay. Its development into a movement tends to begin when small-time capitalists (the petit bourgeoisie, if you will) see their wealth, political power and survival as a stratum of society disappearing in the maws of the giant monopolies and financial houses. Not having the

MEE and agencies (2020-11-12). Missing Israeli soldier found dead in West Bank, military says. middleeasteye.net Missing Israeli soldier found dead in West Bank, military says | The body of the soldier, reported missing this week, was found near an army checkpoint close to Jerusalem | Thu, 11/12/2020 – 09: 34 | Israel's military and police were investigating the circumstances of his death (AFP) | An Israeli soldier reported missing this week was found dead in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the I…

Hajira Asghar (2020-11-12). Healthcare for millions on the line as ultra-right Supreme Court hears challenge to ACA. liberationnews.org For the third time in the past 10 years, Republicans have launched yet another legal attack at the Supreme Court in an attempt to eliminate healthcare coverage for millions.

Chauncey DeVega (2020-11-12). Chris Hedges on the task ahead: Will Biden surrender to plutocrats and paralysis?>. salon.com Pulitzer-winning author: Biden and the Democrats will "just dig themselves deeper," fueling a fascist comeback…

_____ (2020-11-12). Supreme Court Challenge To ACA Highlights Why We Need Medicare For All. popularresistance.org Once again, the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health law passed under the Obama administration in 2010, will be in the hands of the Supreme Court. The court heard oral arguments in the case, California v. Texas, on Tuesday. A decision is expected in the spring. This is the third time the law has been tested in the Supreme Court, but this time experts are not certain the outcome will be as favorable as it was in 2012 and 2015 due to the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her replacement with Amy Coney Barrett.

splcenter (2020-11-12). Far-Right Extremists Heading to Washington Amid Talk of Trump "Coup" splcenter.org A cluster of far-right extremists including neo-fascists, white nationalists and militia members are expected to descend on Washington D.C. Saturday, amidst President Trump's refusal to accept his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Ashlie D. Stevens (2020-11-12). As winter approaches, America's racist produce distribution system makes food insecurity worse. salon.com While gardens serve as a stopgap in summer, communities of color struggle to access fresh produce in colder months…

_____ (2020-11-12). County Must Stop Development Of Moses African Cemetery. popularresistance.org As someone who grew up in Montgomery County, I've heard and seen countless declarations from acquaintances, teachers and government officials that the county is incredibly progressive when it comes to racial justice. In my experience, many of those who sustain this claim will back it up with references to the diversity of county residents or to progressive legislation such as the CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles. | In addition, praise for Montgomery County's progressivism has almost always included some kind of juxtaposition to more "backwards" parts of Maryland…

Emily Peck (2020-11-12). From Marijuana To Minimum Wage, Progressives Won Policy Fights On Election Night. zcomm.org Taken together, these types of measures could go a long way in reducing race and gender discrimination around the country…

Philip Weiss (2020-11-12). Will Trump Push Israeli Annexation Before January 20? And Israel Might Grab 'Once in a Lifetime' Chance. globalresearch.ca Trump will push annexation of West Bank, and if Netanyahu sees it as in his political interest to be antagonistic to Biden, he will accede, say two prominent Israel lobbyists. | *** | In the few weeks he has left, Donald Trump…

Roger Sollenberger (2020-11-12). Obama: Trump "promised an elixir" for the "racial anxiety" of Americans spooked by a Black president. salon.com Tump "promised an elixir" for the racist anxiety Obama's election stirred in white Americans, the ex-president says…

Akram Al-Waara (2020-11-11). Palestinians bid their final goodbyes to Saeb Erekat at mass funeral. middleeasteye.net Palestinians bid their final goodbyes to Saeb Erekat at mass funeral | Hundreds of mourners gather in Jericho to pay their respects as chief Palestinian negotiator is laid to rest | Wed, 11/11/2020 – 14: 11 | Palestinian security forces carry the casket of Saeb Erekat into his family home in Jericho (Akram al-Waara/MEE)
| The family, friends and colleagues of chief Palestinian negotiator Sae…

MEE and agencies (2020-11-11). Israeli parliament approves deal establishing ties with Bahrain. middleeasteye.net Israeli parliament approves deal establishing ties with Bahrain | Agreement condemned by Palestinians as an act of betrayal passed with 62 lawmakers in favour and 14 opposed | Wed, 11/11/2020 – 07: 40 | Israel's prime minister predicted more regional countries would move to open relations with his country (AFP) | Israel's parliament on Tuesday approved a US-brokered deal establishing forma…

Staff (2020-11-11). Marc Steiner Show: Black and Indigenous antifascism; Cindy Blackman Santana on music and social justice. therealnews.com In the premier episode of the Marc Steiner Show, Dr. Nikki Taylor and Dr. Gerald Horne talk about the history of, and resistance to, fascist violence against Indigenous and Black communities in the US, and Cindy Blackman Santana talks about our trying times and her music's place in them.

Elijah Magnier (2020-11-11). Le plan des USA pour affaiblir le Hezbollah : guerre civile et exode des chrétiens. thealtworld.com Les dirigeants politiques et religieux chrétiens du Liban sont théologiquement éloignés des chiites duodécimains, leurs objectifs politiques et idéologiques étant fondamentalement différents de ceux du Hezbollah. Gebran Bassil, le leader du plus grand groupe parlementaire chrétien at-TayyƒÅr al-Wa·π≠anƒ´ al-Hor(Courant patriotique libre ou CPL) l'a clairement exprimé dimanche dernier lors d'une allocution télévisée en réponse aux

Media Lens (2020-11-11). Robert Fisk: Death of a "Controversial" Journalist. dissidentvoice.org Robert Fisk, the Independent's Middle East correspondent, died on 30 October aged 74. In reviewing his life and career, the newspaper for which he worked for more than two decades wrote of their star reporter: 'Much of what Fisk wrote was controversial…' As John Pilger noted, in describing Fisk's journalism as 'controversial' the Independent was …

Elijah Magnier (2020-11-11). The US plan for weakening Hezbollah: a Civil War and the Exodus of the Christians. thealtworld.com The Christian political and religious leaders of Lebanon are theologically distant from Twelver Shia; they have political and ideological objectives that fundamentally differ from those of Hezbollah. Gebran Bassil, the Leader of the larger Christian Parliamentary Group "Al tayyar al-watani al-Hurr" (Free Patriotic Movement — FPM) made this clear last Sunday in a televised statement in response to

Raul Diego (2020-11-11). QAnon Legal Battle Against YouTube Could Transform Free Speech Online. mintpressnews.com A lawsuit brought against YouTube and parent company Google by 15 QAnon social media stars could end up in the Supreme Court and transform the meaning of online free speech in America.

Health Care Voter (2020-11-11). Tuesday 11/10: #SaveTheACA Rally at Supreme Court w/ Health Care Voter (livestream). indybay.org Livestream recording of protest rally…

WSWS (2020-11-11). US Supreme Court justices signal support for upholding Affordable Care Act. wsws.org Most of the justices gave a skeptical hearing to arguments that Obamacare should be struck down in its entirety because Congress eliminated the tax penalty for those who did not purchase insurance.

Christian Sorensen (2020-11-11). The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex Is Fascism. commondreams.org This Veterans Day, if you wish to honor the troops and humanity as a whole, vow to break with or challenge the MIC. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Prof. Ruel F. Pepa (2020-11-11). Systemic Racial Inequity: Discrimination, Dehumanization and Destruction. globalresearch.ca "It is race, is it not, that puts the hundred millions of India under the dominion of a remote island in the north of Europe. Race avails much, if that be true, which is alleged, that all Celts are Catholics, …

James A Haught (2020-11-11). Where Will the Deplorables Go Now? counterpunch.org Donald Trump taught America a great lesson. He showed that this nation has a huge number of racist, sexist, jingoist, gay-hating, Muslim-hating, Hispanic-hating bigots — those Hillary Clinton called a "basket of deplorables." Trump attracted them by millions through his endless attacks on blacks and other minorities. Deplorables clung to him to the bitter end.

Editor (2020-11-11). What Patriotism Means to a Veteran of America's Forever Wars. scheerpost.com The following excerpt from Maj. Danny Sjursen's new book, "Patriotic Dissent" is printed with permission from Heyday Books and is available for purchase on their site. Patriotism is one of those rather difficult words to define, to nail down in any agreed-upon way. It is also a word whose official—or at least dictionary—definition has changed …

WSWS (2020-11-11). NYPD runs amok during post-Election Day protests. wsws.org The NYPD harbors fascistic elements which have brutalized workers in New York City in the days before and after November 3.

WSWS (2020-11-10). Socialist Equality Party (UK) online meeting: The Blairites' anti-Semitism witch-hunt and the failure of Corbynism. wsws.org Readers of the World Socialist Web Site are invited to attend Sunday's online meeting called by the Socialist Equality Party (UK) to discuss the anti-Semitism witch-hunt in the Labour Party, escalated by the suspension of its former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Staff (2020-11-10). Headlines for November 10, 2020. democracynow.org William Barr Says Prosecutors Can Probe Voter Fraud Claims, as GOP Backs Trump Refusal to Concede, GA Republican Senators Call for Sec. of State to Step Down After They Fail to Win Their Races, Joe Biden Pleads for Use of Face Masks as U.S. Cases Top 10 Million, Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dies After Contracting COVID-19, Trump Fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper, SCOTUS Hearing Arguments in GOP Attack on Obamacare, Which Could Strip Healthcare for Millions, Evo Morales Returns to Bolivia, One Year After Coup That Ousted Him, Peru Removes President Vizcarra in Impeachment Trial, Protests Erupt in Ar…

Askiah Adam (2020-11-10). Is Normalization with Israel without a Resolution for Palestine Justifiable? globalresearch.ca Some fifty-three years ago, in 1967, in Khartoum, Sudan, the Arab League met. Then the League adopted the moral high ground "The Three No's": no peace with Israel; no recognition of Israel; and, no negotiation with Israel. But today these …

news.un (2020-11-10). UN agency for Palestine refugees runs out of money as COVID-19 spreads. news.un.org The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) has run out of cash on hand to keep vital services going amid the worsening health emergency, UNRWA spokesperson Tamara Alrifai told a regular UN press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-11-10). 'A Great Loss for Palestine': Veteran Diplomat and PLO Leader Saeb Erekat Dies of Covid-19. commondreams.org Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed Erekat—who served a quarter century as the occupied state's chief negotiator—as "our dear brother and friend, the great fighter." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

MEE staff (2020-11-10). Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, dies after contracting Covid-19. middleeasteye.net Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, dies after contracting Covid-19 | The 65-year-old senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official was being treated for the disease in a Jerusalem hospital | Tue, 11/10/2020 – 09: 12 | Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian negotiator, speaking to reporters in 2014 (AFP) | Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator and senior Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) official,…

MEE staff (2020-11-10). Lebanon's Bahaa Hariri backtracks after interview with Israeli urging peace. middleeasteye.net Lebanon's Bahaa Hariri backtracks after interview with Israeli urging peace | Saudi-backed brother of the prime minister designate claims he did not know nationality or residence of prominent journalist | Tue, 11/10/2020 – 15: 03 | A screengrab of Bahaa Hariri interview with the Israeli reporter Barak Ravid from the American media outlet Axios | Bahaa al-Hariri, the brother of the Lebanese Prime Minister-desig…

David Gamble (2020-11-10). White Supremacy Sanctions Internal and External Colonialism. dissidentvoice.org Introduction Regularly, the media has reported the dire effects of European dominance on the communities of a disenfranchised minority: the public execution of African-Americans by police, the epidemic of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada, the shadow of residential schools in North America, the legacy of red-lining, the impact of the …

Peoples Dispatch (2020-11-10). Palestinian women's organization leader Khitam Saafin placed in administrative detention for 6 months. peoplesdispatch.org Saafin was sent to administrative detention by an Israeli military commander just days after her arrest during which several other activists and leftist figures were also abducted and detained…