Daily Archives: December 17, 2020

2020-12-17: News Headlines

Ramzy Baroud (2020-12-17). When the People Rose: How the Intifada Changed the Political Discourse around Palestine. counterpunch.org December 8 came and went as if it was an ordinary day. For Palestinian political groups, it was another anniversary to be commemorated, however hastily. It was on this day, thirty-three years ago, that the First Palestinian Intifada (uprising) broke out, and there was nothing ordinary about this historic event. Today, the uprising is merely

Workers World Party (2020-12-17). PDF of December 17 issue. workers.org Download the 12-page PDF. 'Red House on Mississippi Ave.' Portland activists block eviction Fight for Mumia's freedom; NYC cops & landlords, hand in hand; Boston solidarity with workers, farmers in India; Buffalo anti-racists face down fascists; Michigan: Confronting white supremacy; Justice for Casey Goodson! Attack on anti-ICE marchers; Indigenous land . . . |

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-17). Hoarding the Jabs: The Inequalities of Vaccine Distribution. globalresearch.ca Public health is no excuse to keep business and patriotism at bay. Not a very humanitarian sentiment, but then again, healing the sick and preserving the healthy can become parochial, nationalist objectives. The least convincing language of the pandemic has …

_____ (2020-12-17). Bezos' Earth Fund Is An Unnatural Disaster. popularresistance.org Now is the time for undeniably powerful grassroots leadership. If we've learned anything this year from the brilliant, brave, bold, and beautiful Black, Brown, Indigenous and other frontline communities and workers fighting inequitable impacts of pandemics, pollution, poverty, climate disaster and emboldened racism, it's that real change happens at the grassroots. | Yet, in a year when frontline leadership is clearly critical, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (through his newly launched Earth Fund) has doubled down on philanthropy's inequitable modus operandi by funneling hundreds of millions into outdated, ineffective, top…

Mustafa Abu Sneineh (2020-12-17). Israel's Benny Gantz gives interview to Saudi newspaper. middleeasteye.net Israel's Benny Gantz gives interview to Saudi newspaper | The minister of defence told Asharq al-Awsat that Jerusalem should remain fully under Israeli control and pushed for annexation of parts of the West Bank | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 15: 14 | Benny Gantz speaks to the media near Kibbutz Ravid in the northern part of Israel, on 27 October 2020 (AFP) | Israeli Defence Minister Benny G…

MEE staff (2020-12-17). 'Intentional lethal force': UN experts slam Israel for killing Palestinian child. middleeasteye.net 'Intentional lethal force': UN experts slam Israel for killing Palestinian child | Fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ali Abu Aliya a 'grave violation of international law', says UN Human Rights Office | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 19: 36 | Experts call for transparent investigation into killing of Ali Abu Aliya (Photo supplied) | United Nations experts condemned the Israeli military for killing a Palestinian child during a…

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-17). Palestinian man found dead in illegal settlement in occupied East Jerusalem. peoplesdispatch.org The 37-year-old man, identified as Abdul Fattah Obeiat, was a father of two children. His body was found by his relatives in one of the buildings of the illegal Gilo settlement…

Racial Justice Reprint (2020-12-17). Racism a long legacy in Sacramento County Public Health Crisis. indybay.org Sacramento County, seat of the Capitol Region of the 5th largest economy on earth, continues to refuse acknowledgement of complicity in the enslavement of people of Pan African Ancestry.

Joseph Massad (2020-12-17). History: Israeli Propaganda on the 'Expulsion' of Arab Jews. globalresearch.ca Israeli propaganda about the "expulsion" of Arab Jews from Arab countries in the late 1940s and early 1950s continues without respite. Earlier this month, Israel's UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan,

Eds. (2020-12-16). Lynchings by law. mronline.org The U.S. death penalty has always been a symbol of white supremacy and a violation of human rights law. Having already executed 11 people this year, the Trump administration plans to execute five people (four of them Black) during a lame-duck session.

Miko Peled (2020-12-16). Rabbi Moshe Ber Beck Endured a Nearly a Century of Struggle for His Beliefs. mintpressnews.com Having dodged Nazi soldiers at 10 years old and later beatings by Israeli police, Rabbi Moshe Ber Beck is not the type to let a bit of adversity stand in the way of fighting for his beliefs.

G. Dunkel (2020-12-16). Behind Morocco's recognition of Israel. workers.org A February demonstration was held in Rabat, Morocco's capital, in support of Palestine. It was a deal, pure — but not so simple. The U.S. recognized the Western Sahara — the last remaining colony in Africa according to the United Nations — as part of Morocco, while Morocco upgraded its . . . |

Priti Gulati Cox (2020-12-16). JatiIndia: Atrocities Caste, Present and Future. counterpunch.org The jingoist nation and nationalism have got weaponized by the political class to destroy dissent and polarize people. The mass frenzy has accomplished complete derationalization and inversion of meanings where destroyers of the nation become deshbhakts (patriots) and selfless servers of people become deshdrohis (traitors). As I see my India being ruined, it is with

Steve Gillis (2020-12-16). Boston rallies for striking Indian workers, farmers. workers.org Hundreds of millions of Indian workers and farmers staged the world's largest strike on Nov. 26 and are continuing to shut down areas of the economy. On Dec. 12, the anniversary of the racist and discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act of India's fascist-minded Modi government, the Boston South Asian Coalition brought . . . |

David Rovics (2020-12-16). Privileged People Complaining About Privileged People. dissidentvoice.org How NPR Divides and Conquers What is the result when a media outlet does a new story every day about the history of racism in the US, without ever mentioning the history of the multiracial radical labor movement whose white and BIPOC organizers were lynched for fighting for equality and freedom? I listen to NPR …

Staff (2020-12-16). What a radical basketball coach looks like; Kamilah Forbes brings Ta-Nehisi Coates's words to life. therealnews.com We talk with Jesse Washington about how college basketball coach John Thompson took on the racist sports power brokers and changed the game. Then, Kamilah Forbes discusses the politics of her dramatic adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates's book, "Between the World and Me."

RT (2020-12-16). US and Ukraine vote AGAINST anti-Nazi resolution proposed by Russia at UN General Assembly, Germany abstains. rt.com Russia's resolution condemning the "glorification of Nazism" passed in the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support, though the two countries voted against and most of the European delegations, including Germany, abstained. | The UNGA adopted the Russian draft resolution on "combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" on Wednesday. | The resolution called on member states to pass legislation to "eliminate all forms of racial discrimination," and condemned the "glorific…

Jonathan Cook (2020-12-16). Antisemitism Claims Mask a Reign of Political and Cultural Terror Across Europe. counterpunch.org The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has run a fascinating long report this week offering a disturbing snapshot of the political climate rapidly emerging across Europe on the issue of antisemitism. The article documents a kind of cultural, political and intellectual reign of terror in Germany since the parliament passed a resolution last year equating support for non-violent boycotts

Yasmina Allouche (2020-12-16). Tunisia and Algeria try to cool tensions over Western Sahara. middleeasteye.net Tunisia and Algeria try to cool tensions over Western Sahara | Tunisia's former foreign minister provoked anger after blaming Algiers for pushing Morocco to normalise with Israel | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 15: 07 | Tunisia's foreign minister Othman Jerandi has reiterated "Tunisia's pride in brotherly relations with Algeria" (Photo/Screengrab) | Tunisian and Algerian officials are attempting to pu…

Nur Ayoubi (2020-12-16). Chicken run: Lebanese boy risks life and limb to rescue runaway fowl from Israel. middleeasteye.net Chicken run: Lebanese boy risks life and limb to rescue runaway fowl from Israel | Hussein Shartoony becomes an unexpected hero after Israeli soldiers fire bullets into the air as he attempts to rescue his friend | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 11: 59 | The reaction of the Israeli soldiers to Hussein and his chicken garnered ridicule online (Screengrab/Twitter) | Hezbollah may be Israel's most pressing threat on the Le…

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-16). Civil Rights Groups Urge Biden to Nominate Attorney General Dedicated to 'Bedrock Principle of Equal Justice'. commondreams.org "We need an attorney general… committed to ending discrimination; addressing white supremacy and hate violence; and advancing racial, gender, disability, ethnic, religious, immigrant, and LGBTQ justice." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

teleSUR (2020-12-16). Salvadoreans Demand Justice for the Jesuits Murder Case. telesurenglish.net The Central American University Jose Simeon Cañas (UCA) denounced two judges of the Supreme Court for ruling in favor of the intellectual authors of the murder of six Jesuit priests in 1989. | RELATED: | The complaint was submitted to the Attorney General's Office (FGR) against judges Jose Roberto Argueta Manzano and Juan Manuel Bolaños who ordered the closure of the Jesuits' case. | The ruling did not take into acc…

Almasdar News (2020-12-16). Will Israel Deploy Missile Defense Systems to Persian Gulf Amid Growing Tension with Iran? globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, a senior Israeli official expressed his country's readiness to cooperate in the future in the field of missile defense with Gulf states that share their concerns about Iran. | Moshe Patil, head of the Israeli Defense Ministry's Missile Defense …

splcenter (2020-12-16). Proud Boys Destroy Churches' Black Lives Matter Signs During Protest in Washington, D.C. splcenter.org Proud Boys attended a pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday that ended with members of the group tearing down and destroying Black Lives Matter banners from two historic Black churches.

sputniknews (2020-12-16). Netanyahu to Become First Israeli to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine. sputniknews.com MOSCOW, (Sputnik) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to be the first person in Israel to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Tobita Chow (2020-12-16). Post-Election Reflections on Sinophobia in U.S. Politics. zcomm.org The last 12 months have seen a sharp rise in anti-China sentiment and, consequently, anti-Asian racism…

John Pilger (2020-12-15). The Most Lethal Virus is Not COVID. It is War. counterpunch.org In the midst of the greatest health emergency in modern times, with more than 4 million surgical procedures delayed by the National Health Service, Boris Johnson has announced a record increase of £16.5 billion in so-called defence spending — a figure that would restore the under-resourced NHS many times over.

A Guest Author (2020-12-15). Nature under settler colonialism in Palestine. workers.org By Rana Baker This slightly edited presentation was given by Rana Baker, a Palestinian PhD student at Columbia University, during the online Palestine Writes Festival, Dec. 5. Baker's research focuses on infrastructure and environmental resources as micro-sites of political struggle in colonial and anti-colonial contexts. A Palestinian incendiary kite crosses . . . |

MEE and agencies (2020-12-15). Moroccan authorities prevent protest against ties with Israel in Rabat. middleeasteye.net Moroccan authorities prevent protest against ties with Israel in Rabat | Heavy police presence backed by water cannons and anti-riot forces deployed in main avenue leading to parliament | Tue, 12/15/2020 – 08: 27 | A woman flashes the victory sign while security forces block an avenue in front of Morocco's parliament building on Monday (AFP) | Moroccan authorities on Monday prevented a pro…

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-15). Soleimani entered Gaza to repel Israeli attacks, blockade. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 15 (MNA) — Firas Al Najim, a Canada-based human rights activist, points to the role of Martyred Lieutenant General Ghasem Soleimani in the fight against terrorism in West Asia, and his support for Palestinian resistance.

Sarah Lahm (2020-12-15). Midwest Dispatch: Beware of Proud Boys and Liability Shields. progressive.org We know racist violence runs rampant on the far right, but it's also familiar in Congress.

Norman Stockwell (2020-12-15). W.E.B. Du Bois Is as Relevant as Ever. progressive.org Elvira Basevich's new book takes a look at the scholar's work through the lens of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Anthony Pahnke (2020-12-15). How Vilsack Should Use His Second Chance. progressive.org The problems he struggled with during his first stint as agriculture secretary, from corporate concentration to racism, have not gone away.

WSWS (2020-12-15). Editor of New Zealand's major corporate think tank exposed as a bigot. wsws.org Nathan Smith, chief editor of the New Zealand Initiative and a major writer for the National Business Review, ran a personal blog featuring anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim diatribes.

Roger Sollenberger (2020-12-15). How did a Proud Boys leader with a felony record get into the White House?>. salon.com Enrique Tarrio claims he visited the White House on Saturday, hours before a major pro-Trump rally…

Gary M. Kramer (2020-12-15). Hollywood is still overlooking Latinx filmmakers: "My story matters, my pain matters" salon.com "Real Women Have Curves" writer Josefina Lopez details racist industry experiences & needing better storytelling…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-12-15). 'On the Verge of Global Vaccine Apartheid': Rich Countries Hoard Supplies as Poorest Left Out. commondreams.org Global public health officials fear that the push for international solidarity "has mostly been lost" as the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe has claimed a vast majority of the available vaccines. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files…

Pablo Navarrete (2020-12-15). Stop weaponising antisemitism: 'Never again ever, for anyone!'. thecanary.co Dan Glass is the grandson of four Nazi Holocaust survivors, two from Germany and two from Poland. He says "the last thing I'm ever going to let happen is that my grandparents' story and what they went through, be weaponised to oppress other people". | You can watch the full Redfish documentary featured in this video Alongside the launch of this video, the following Q&A with Dan Glass and The Canary's

commondreams (2020-12-14). ACLU Comment on Supreme Court Action on Kansas Voting Lawsuit. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Hamda Mustafa (2020-12-14). Syria: Weapons Found, Including Israeli Made Ones, and a Drone Left Behind by Terrorists in Syria's Southern Region. globalresearch.ca Syrian authorities on Sunday found a quantity of weapons and ammunition, including Israeli-made weapons as well as a drone left behind by terrorists in Syria's southern region, SANA reporter said on Sunday, citing a source from authorities. | The source told …