It is well established in scholarly literature on international conflict that whenever a country behaves in an erratic, aggressive manner, it is nearly always a reflection of deep-seated internal social, political, and economic problems which the country’s leadership is unable or unwilling to address. United States is an example of what happens when that country is a superpower facing not only international decline, but also internal decay. Zbigniew Brzezinski infamously described the Soviet Union as “Upper Volta with rockets”. That was never a fair comparison, since USSR lacked the massive pockets of poverty, social exclusion, and downright police repression that the United States boasts. Likewise the Soviet health care system could have coped with a pandemic better than the US one or even the current Russian Federation one. Today’s America, however, is that country Brzezinski spoke about. Expanding its global influence through direct, proxy, and hybrid wars became the most attractive policy tool intended to restore the health of the US economy which, since the end of the Cold War, was kept alive mainly by extremely permissive monetary policies of the US Federal Reserve which in the end inflated several stock market bubbles. Even today the Federal Reserve’s main concern is keeping the Dow Jones rally going, because a collapse on the markets would permanently cripple the US economy.
However, at risk of mixing metaphors, an economy built on equity bubbles is a house of card that will collapse at the slightest shock. COVID-19 proved to be that shock, a “Black Swan” event that has been predicted for many years that would precipitate a radical transformation of domestic political systems and of the balance of power in the international system. The pandemic became a test of not just public health systems, but of the strength of each country’s economy, the cohesion of its society, and the ability of its government to govern. Even though we are still in the early stages of the crisis, we can already see that some states are passing the test (so far) with flying colors, while others are being wracked by internal turmoil. To quote Warren Buffett, when the tide recedes you see who has been swimming naked. The United States has been revealed to be quite wardrobe-challenged in this instance.
The callous slow-motion torture and murder of George Floyd in the Democratic Party stronghold of Minneapolis by four police officers with long histories of brutality against ethnic minorities was the spark that ignited the powder keg of US race relations. It certainly did not help that the United States created forty million new unemployed and failed to provide them with adequate financial support, due to the infamously miserly US social safety net. And just as COVID-19 is disproportionately lethal to US ethnic minorities who suffer from a higher level of underlying medical conditions due to poverty, malnutrition, and stress, so did the job losses disproportionately affect African Americans. The average black worker does not “work from home” on his laptop computer. Rather, the average black worker is employed in food service, hospitality, and retail, all of which have been crushed by the pandemic and, especially, the lockdown measures. It is no wonder that the conservatives wanted to “re-open” the economy as quickly as possible. Chasing millions of African Americans back to their menial jobs, even when it involved them facing greater risk of infection and death, would at least deprive them of the free time they have available to protest.
The speed with which the protests spread across the country, affecting every state and most large cities, is a reflection of the universality of the problem that the events in Minneapolis revealed. In the face of slow-motion economic collapse and the destruction of the American middle class, the US political system at both state and federal levels has subtly but effectively sought to shift the economic pain to the minorities, in order to preserve the standard of living of the white middle class on whose support the legitimacy of the US political and economic system still rests. The armed white militias that protested at several state legislatures only a month earlier are an expression of that fear. The “don’t tread on me” Gadsden Flags quite clearly express who is to be tread upon, and who is not. They are a warning that should US elites attempt to economically marginalize the white middle class, they may expect a forceful response. The weak police response to law-breaking perpetrated by armed white militias was not lost on most commentators, either. But these politics of “economic triage” where the pain is shifted to the communities of color also implies the need for heavy-handed police repression which US police forces are all too happy to deliver. US law enforcement should not be seen as a collection of politically-neutral guardians of law and order. Rather, it skews heavily toward the right, even the far-right, and it is no surprise that Donald Trump enjoys the overwhelming support of American police unions and organizations. While these trends were evident for the last decade at least, since the 2008 crisis to which the US government never found an adequate response, the pandemic accelerated it to the point of the tensions and grievances finally boiling over.
Whenever a fire breaks out, it is ultimately either put out or burns itself out due to lack of fuel. It is doubtful this is going to burn itself out on its own, given that the US law enforcement is now providing more provocation with its heavy-handed tactics on daily basis, and moreover neither the pandemic nor the economic crisis are going anywhere any time soon. Since the United States is now in the throes of domestic unrest not seen since the days of Vietnam War, it raises the question of what is to be done about it? Which leaders, which policies, might definitively address the grievances of the masses?
We can safely say Donald Trump will not be the one, because to the extent he is wielding a fire hose, it seems to be mostly spraying gasoline on the fire. Literally every action, every statement, every tweet, has served to polarize and exacerbate the problems. It may be Trump is doing this deliberately, hoping to replicate Richard Nixon’s “silent majority” strategy, an idea that is supported by Trump himself tweeting these words. Yes, the riots polarize, but the hope is that, when the smoke clears, Trump’s half is the bigger of the two and, like Nixon, he secures his re-election. Richard Nixon won his re-election by a landslide, even though after the fact almost nobody admitted ever voting for him. However, few things motivate voting for conservatives in the US more than the sight of black rioters and looters.
Of course, the problem Trump faces here is that Joe Biden has impeccable “law and order” credentials, complete with the ability to “dog whistle” to white conservatives. Biden, after all, is the politician who said in the 1970s he did not want his children to “grow up in a racial jungle”, and his support of anti-crime legislation which led to the mass incarceration of African-Americans in the last few decades suggests he is willing to put his money where his mouth is. Thanks to his role as Obama’s vice president, he also has certain sway among the African American community that has served him well in the primaries and obscured his previous racist record. But in the end Biden is no Obama, whose combination of personality and politics was just enough to keep America from blowing up. Biden does not have the same combination, and moreover he is presiding over an economic catastrophe that will not be as easy to rectify by throwing money at banks the way the 2008 crisis was.
The one politician who correctly identifies both problems and solutions and who also commands considerable popular support, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has been effectively sidelined by the Democratic Party which is utterly uninterested in adopting policies of economic and social justice. It means that, in the longer term, America will move toward greater police repression which will be far more easily accepted by the white public when it is done during a Biden presidency. Given that neither Biden’s nor Obama’s public appearances were effective at demobilizing the protests, it means the United States is facing the prospect of its own Yellow Vest-style uprising, namely a continuous low-level anti-government uprising that will ebb and flow but never entirely disappear.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, which marked the Muslim holiday, Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan, was no different, as IOF attacks continued; additionally, settlers shot and wounded Palestinian farmers, set lands ablaze and attacked houses.
This week, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 106 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. The restrictions imposed under the state of emergency have hindered our fieldwork team’s ability to cover all incidents in the oPt and were forced to collect information via phone from trusted local sources. As such, this report is an in-comprehensive record of Israeli violations of human rights against Palestinians in the oPt, as IOF continues its attacks against civilians despite the exceptional circumstances that have overcome the whole world in the face of a pandemic.
IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: IOF shot and wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in excessive use of force and in settler attacks. Palestinian man and child were wounded in two IOF raids into Ramallah and Tubas that included the use of live ammunition; another 2 were shot by settlers in eastern Ramallah; and 1 other was shot in eastern Jerusalem, alleging he attempted a stabbing attack.
In Gaza, 6 shootings against agricultural lands eastern Gaza Strip were reported.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 47 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 48 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 children.
Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks: IOF continued its settlement expansion operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 8 violations, including: caravan dismantled and confiscated, an under construction house destroyed in central Jordan Valley; 4 street-vendor booths in northern Jordan Valley; barracks used as a barn destroyed, and a tent removed in Bethlehem; caravan, 2 resorts and historic site destroyed in Nablus; and 3 Palestinians forced to self-demolish their homes.
PCHR also documented 9 settler attacks: Palestinian lands set on fire, farmers assaulted and trees cut in Tulkarem; 2 houses and vehicles assaulted in Nablus; 2 Palestinians shot and wounded, and 2 others assaulted in Ramallah; agriculture lands set on fire in Hebron; and trees uprooted in Salfit.
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:The Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Furthermore, IOF uses Erez Crossing that is designated for movement of individuals as an ambush to arrest Palestinians who obtain permits to exit via Israel.
Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.
1. Violation of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity, Shooting and Other Violations
At approximately 03:30 on Thursday, 21 May 2020, IOF stormed Tubas. In the meantime, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at Israeli infantry units in the city. Israeli soldiers responded with live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a 22-year-old civilian was shot with alive bullet in his right foot. He was taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital for medical treatment and his injury was classified as moderate.
At approximately 04:30 on the same Thursday, IOF reinforced with military SUVs stormed Beit Rema village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Adel Mustafa al-Barghouthi (62) and Basel Samer al-Barghouthi (21). IOF arrested both civilians before their withdrawal from the village. In the meantime, another Israeli force deployed and patrolled the village’s streets. Dozens of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli soldiers while the latter responded with rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a 15-year-old child was shot and injured with a tear gas shrapnel in his knee and he received medical treatment on the field. IOF later released Adel al-Barghouthi.
At approximately 08:20 on Friday, 22 May 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands, adjacent to the border fence. The attack continued for 15 minutes. No casualties were reported.
Ten minutes later, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands, adjacent to the border fence; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:45 on Saturday, 23 May 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands for 30 minutes; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 06:45 on Sunday, 24 May 20200, IOF suppressed Palestinian worshipers celebrating Eid al-Fitr after the end of the Eid prayer in al-Ghazali Square, adjacent to Bab Al Asbat “Lions’ Gate”, which is one of Al-Aqsa Mosque gates in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Eyewitnesses stated that IOF began to harass the worshippers before the Eid prayer when the latter attempted to cross the steel gates established by IOF at the entrance to al-Ghazali Square. IOF attempted to ban the worshipers from entering the square and attacked some of them by beating them. At the end of Eid Speech, large Israeli forces raided the area and forcibly evacuated the worshippers. Eyewitnesses also said that dozens of Israeli soldiers suppressed the worshipers and attacked them by beating and pushing them following the end of the Eid prayer. Israeli soldiers also detained 2 civilians after beating them for several hours at Bab al-Asbat – Al-Qeshal police station. The 2 detainees were identified as Abdul Ghani al-Emari 62) and Riyad al-Rajbi.
At approximately 03:30 on Monday, 25 May 2020, IOF opened fire at Awad Younis Bashir (38) claiming that he attempted to stab an Israeli soldier stationed at an Israeli military watchtower, adjacent to Jabal al-Mukaber village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem. As a result, Bashir was shot with several live bullets in his chest. He was taken to Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital in West Jerusalem, for treatment.Following the incident, IOF closed the scene and its vicinity and banned Palestinians from approaching the area. IOF stormed Bashir neighborhood in Jabal al-Mukaber village. They raided and searched the house of Bashir and his brothers Akram and Riyad and arrested them. Awad’s relatives said that IOF thoroughly searched the house, arrested Awad’s brothers, and summoned his father for investigation.
At approximately 07:25 on Tuesday, 26 May 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands. Adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:30 on the same Tuesday, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip fired live bullets and sound bombs at agricultural lands, east of Khuza’a village, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed along the border fence, north of Buret Abu Samrah, north of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
2. Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 21 May 2020:
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Fawakhera neighborhood, in central Bethlehem. They raided and searched Ibrahim Hani Souman’s (29) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians including a child, a father and his son: Yazeed Abdul Raheem Abu Abed (16), Shu’lan Kiwan Abu Baker (20), Emad Mahmoud al-‘Abbadi (50), and his son Omar (19).
Around the same time, IOF moved into Qalqilia. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (6) civilians. The arrestees are: Mohammed Talal al-Baz (32), Abdul Rahman Mazen Khadraj (28), Zaki Abdul Fatah Dawoud (55), Jamal Othman Dawoud (58), Husni Sharif al-Nais (35), and Abdul Khaleq Mazen Khadraj (28).
At approximately 04:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, and stationed in al-Thuhr and Sha’b al-Sir neighborhood. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians including a child and took them to an Israeli army camp near “Karmi Tsour” settlement, south of the city by foot. The arrestees are: Oday Eyad Bassam Za’aqeeq (21), Majd Zuhair Muqbel (17), a high school student, Hamad Ibrahim Abu Maria (24), and Rikan Naser Abu Maria (18).
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Silwad, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched Malek Ra’ed Hamed’s (22) house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:15, IOF moved into the house of the former prisoner, Nihad Bader Younis Zughaiar (43), while heading to al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. IOF took him to an unknown destination. It should be noted that Zughaiar spent 35-months in the Israeli prisons, and he was released 3-weeks ago in condition that banning his entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem for 2 weeks.
At approximately 04:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Safa village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mahdi Karaja’s (22) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Sanjal village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched Izzat Ibrahim Shabana’s (23) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Kharbatha Bani Hareth, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Shadi Abdul Ra’ouf Anjas’s (36) house and arrested him.
At approximately 05:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Kreesa, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched Mou’di Ameen al-Wahwah’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, IOF stationed at Jeet checkpoint, southwest of Nablus, arrested Eyad Mohammed Sadaqa (19), from Anza village, southeast of Jenin. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Bab Hatta neighborhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Sufian Omar al-‘Ajlouni’s (22) house and arrested him.
At approximately 21:30, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint in the entrance of ‘Arraba village, southeast of Jenin. They arrested Mahmoud Sa’eed al-Sa’di (55), from Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, and took him to an unknown destination. IOF carried out two incursions in Azoun, east of Qalqilia, and Kafl Hares, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 22 May 2020:
IOF carried out an incursion in al-Beireh. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 23 May 2020:
At approximately 09:00, IOF deployed in Hebron’s Old City’s neighborhoods arrested Shadi Mohammed Sidr (30), while present in Ein Askar neighborhood. IOF took him to one of the investigation centers in “Kiryat Arba’”, east of Hebron.
At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed around the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the central Hebron’s Old City, arrested Mohammed Hisham al-Ja’bari (20), while passing through an Israeli military checkpoint. IOF took him to Ja’bara police station. Furthermore, IOF banned dozens of civilians from performing the prayers in the above-mentioned mosque.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Bab Hatta neighborhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Mohammed Khaled Sharifa’s (22) house and arrested him.
Sunday, 24 May 2020:
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Mohammed Sameeh al-‘Abbasi’s (26) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 13:00, IOF arrested Ahmed Jawdat al-Shawish (27), while present near the western entrance of al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. IOF took him to an unknown destination. It should be noted that IOF arrested him before 5 days and released him on the same day in condition that imposing the home confinement for 3 days.
At approximately 20:00, IOF stationed at “al-Kontainer” military checkpoint, east of Bethlehem, arrested Aqab Yehya Mousa (26), from al-Khader village, south of the city, after detaining him inside his vehicle for hours.
Monday, 25 May 2020:
IOF carried out (4) incursions in Beit Omra and Hadab villages in Hebron, Kafl Hares, north of Salfit, Badros al-Mazra’a al-Gharbeya, in Ramallah. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 26 May 2020:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and handed Ahmed Kayed Abu Asab (18) and Yaser Darweesh (38) summonses to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in al-Maskoubeya investigation center in West Jerusalem. IOF further arrested (4) civilians including a child: Faisal Lo’ay Obaid (19), Ali Mohammed Hamdan (19), Mohammed Khaldoun Mostafa (15), and Yousef Tareq Darweesh (21).
At approximately 09:00, IOF handed Hamza Nimir (41), the guard of Al-Aqsa Mosque a decision to ban his entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque for 6-months, after calling him for investigation in al-Qishla investigation center.
The Israeli Authorities arrested Nimir last week while he was on duty, when he prevented them from storming the mosque. IOF took him to al-Qishla investigation center in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City and handed him a decision to ban his entry of Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week. It should be noted that IOF arrested Nimir and banned his entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque for several times, under the occupation’s policy to vacate the mosque from the supporters and guards to prospect settler raids into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
At approximately 12:30, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint on the eastern entrance of Qalqilia, arrested Mus’ab Mohammed Qutaish (25), from ‘Ateel village, north of Tulkarem.
At approximately 17:00, IOF stationed at Za’tara military checkpoint south of Nablus, arrested Faher Bilal Yehya (20), from Tulkarem.
Wednesday, 27 May 2020:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qafin village, north of Tulkarem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Abdul Rahim Waleed Sabah (28) and Karam Ra’ed Mohammed Ammar (20), and arrested them.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarem. They raided and searched Mohammed Nabeel Odwan’s (28) house and arrested him.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli undercover units dressed in civilian clothes sneaked to Beit Rima village, northeast of Ramallah, using a white Ford car with a Palestinian registration palette, and stationed in front of Nour Adel al-Barghouthi’s (28) house. After minutes, IOF stormed the village, surrounded the house and covered the withdrawal of the undercover unit that arrested Nour. IOF took Nour to an unknown destination.
At approximately 05:20, IOF moved into Abu Shukhaidim village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mahmoud Emad Salim’s (26) house and arrested him.
At approximately 07:30, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint on the eastern entrance of al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, arrested Omar Owda Abu Alia (28). IOF took him to an unknown destination.
3. Settlement Expansion and Settler Violence in the West Bank
a. Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities
At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 21 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Furush Beit Dajan village. The Israeli Civil Administration officers dismantled Mohamed ‘Adely Zuhdi Hamed’s a 30-square-meter caravan and confiscated it, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
At approximately 05:00 on Monday, 25 May 2020, IOF demolished a barrack for breeding livestock and a tent in Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem. Activists said that IOF moved into Hazem Hashem Abu Mahameed’s land, demolished a livestock barrack, removed a tent, and confiscated it, under the pretext of non-licensing. The activists added that Abu Mahameed was detained for few hours and released later.
At approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 26 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-Nejma Kafur ‘Atiyia area on a road connecting between ‘Aqraba and Majdal Bani Fadel villages, southeast of Nablus. IOF demolished Marwan ‘Abed al-Hameed Abu Katab’s 35-square-meter caravan, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
At approximately 05:30 on Wednesday, 27 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Sebastia village in Nablus. IOF demolished a resort and a 30-square-meter room inside it, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C. The demolished room belonged to Ibrahim Mahmoud Ghazal.
At approximately 06:30, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Zota village in Nablus. IOF demolished Waddah Mohamed Wael; Abed al-Haq’s resort, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
At approximately 09:00, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Furush Beit Dajan village. IOF demolished Ahmed Ibrahim Mohamed Banyat’s under-construction house (95 s.q), under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
At approximately 10:30, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into in an area between Bardla and ‘Ain al-Bida villages in northern valley. IOF demolished 4 vegetables stalls belonging to Feras ‘Aref Akram Sawafta, Eyad ‘Abed Mohamed Sawafta, Suliman Ziyad ‘Abed Sawafta, all of them from Bardlah village, and Shadi Nabil ‘Aref Foqaha, from Kardla village.
On Wednesday, 27 May 2020. Siyam family implemented the Israeli Municipality decision and self-demolished 3 of their houses in Wadi Hilweh neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Naser Siyam said that his family house was built over 90 years ago and he built a new 80-square-meter apartment above his family house while his brothers Khaled and Majd finished the construction of their houses as a prelude to live in them. Siyam clarified that the Israeli municipality began to pursuit him when he finished the construction of his new apartment and issued several demolition notices, in addition to imposing financial fines on him. IOF gave Siyam until the end of the week to implement the demolition, so he was forced to self-demolish his family house (240 s.q) to avoid paying the demolition costs.
b. Israeli Settler Violence
At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 21 May 2020, Israeli settlers burned Palestinians’ agricultural lands in Rameen village, east of Tulkarem. As a result, dozens of olive and almonds trees were damaged and burned.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli settlers, from “Price Tag group”, attacked Mohamed Jaser Snobar’s house in Yatma village, southeast of Nablus. As a result the house sustained material damage. Palestinian young men gathered and confronted the settlers, forcing them to leave.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli settlers, from “Price Tag group”, attacked Palestinians’ vehicles passing on Jenin-Nablus street and threw stones at them. No injuries were reported.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli settlers, from “Price Tag group”, threw stones at Palestinian vehicles and at Merhij al-Damdi’s house, causing material damage. They also broke S’ad ‘Atta Mohamed Othman’s vehicle window, noting that he sustained wounds due to scattering glass inside the vehicle.
At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 22 May 2020, Israeli settlers, from “Helmish” settlement, which is established on Ramallah northwestern lands, attacked Qusai Diyab al-Tamimi (23) and Ziyad al-Tamimi (24), from Dir Nizam village, under the IOF protection. Qusai and Ziyad were attacked and beat with stones while present in their agricultural lands in Wadi Riyia area adjacent to the mentioned settlement. As a result, Qusai and Ziyad sustained wounds in the head and bruises throughout their bodies. Palestinian young men intervened and help them. Qusai and Ziyad received treatment on the spot while IOF secured the settlers’ withdrawal. It should be noted that Qusai is the secretary of the “Fatah” movement in Dir Nizam village.
At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 24 May 2020, Israeli settlers moved into Palestinians’ agricultural lands in Shofa village, east of Tulkarem, and prevented farmers from working in their lands. The settlers also cut the olive trees twigs and withdrew at 12:00. At approximately 16:00, Israeli settlers, from “Ma’oun” settlement, which is established on Palestinian confiscated lands, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, burned Rabi’y family’s 3 dunams planted with wheat and barley in Tawana village.
At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 25 May 2020, 3 settlers, from “Shillo” settlement, which is established on Termas’iyia village lands, east of Ramallah, attacked and deliberately opened fire at ‘Emad Fahti Abu ‘Alia (33) and his brother Murad (28) while working in his agricultural lands. As a result, ‘Emad was injured and shot with a live bullet in his left thigh while Murad was injured and shot with a live bullet in his waist. Both of them were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah for treatment.
At approximately 19:40 on Monday, 25 May 2020, settlers, from “Rafafa” settlement, which is established on Dirsitiyia village lands, north of Salfit, moved into Palestinian lands in Hares village and uprooted at least 200 olive trees belonging to the heirs of Ya’qoub ‘Odah Sultan.
The US has recently been trying to become a modern, humane society – and this is one of the many great hard-won and predictable consequences from electing a corporate fascist like Trump – but the results are chaos.
The US cannot protest
Look at these tiny, piddling protests, rarely over 1,000 people. Millions of Iranians can march in silence, unity and respect; China has 3-500 protests a day; today at least 20,000 people in Paris protested against police brutality but no US city has even come close to that figure. Why is that?
Answer: There are no unions, no political parties, no NGOs, no churches who dare to join these protests to flesh it out and give it structure, leadership, a soul, determination, solidarity, history, etc.
Indeed, what on earth is the point of listening to US clergy, who limit their political activism to putting down Trump? They won’t get involved, they won’t get dirty, they won’t put themselves at risk – at best they might go pick up the rubble the day after. Similarly, France’s clergy is only on the streets when it’s about nonsense like gay marriage.
Unions and political parties showing up en masse with banners and flags to question the political status quo, which they game expertly and support to the hilt? In the US you probably have to go back to 1913 to find that.
The US and the West (especially Emmanuel Macron) talk so much about civil society and NGOs, precisely because they are almost always explicitly apolitical, and in America would never join any protest which had the remotest chance of violence. Are you really banking on the Shriners or the YMCA, LOL?
The US cannot protest because it just devolves to violence
What’s crystal clear is that the US police cannot handle what is going on, and that is really the most significant long-term development here. When a society cannot provide safety, it is not much of a society at all. (May I note here that Cuban journalists said I was the first non-Cuban journalist they ever personally saw who reported about the total physical security Cubans enjoy at all times.)
US cops are not used to anybody resisting, and because they don’t have overwhelming numerical superiority they are just standing around agape; people see this and that is why they are brazenly looting in broad daylight. When cops do actually try to earn their good pay, their early retirement, their incredible guaranteed pensions, their drooling adulation from the Mainstream Media – it is against peaceful protesters and not apolitical looters.
Contrarily, France has a dedicated squad of riot police who are terribly brutal, but in the US their police are not trained to handle protests at all because: why waste time – the US cannot protest. Again, US cops are showing just how cowardly they are, and this has huge long-term cultural implications in a country which has so many guns and soon even more willingness to use them.
The US is sending in piddling amounts of National Guard like it’s 1968 – you know, back when the army was actually drawn from all sections of society – and assuming that will solve everything. A big LOL to those who think a dentist or teacher with zero combat experience is going to go hand-to-hand with looters. The US doesn’t have an army since 9/11 – it has mercenaries and 18-year olds. Incredibly, calling out the National Guard is the “ace in the hole” US governors are relying on. Again, a big LOL to this hugely, hugely outdated Boomer notion.
The cops are scared, the Marines can’t be used, the National Guard may or may not show up: this is why the only defense against looters is now in neighbourhood committees.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh… so now the Basij isn’t looking so terrible, huh? Huh?
Or a Cuban Committee for the Defense of the Revolution. Or a Chinese Communist Party. Or ANYTHING which was a pre-existing grassroots organisation of concerned citizens who have the organisation to quickly defend their neighbourhood and stores from people who are not protesters but looters.
The difference between the Basij and these thrown together US neighbourhood watch gangs is that in Iran an Azeri neighbourhood is not laying in wait for an unknown Assyrian, Kurd or Turkman to cross to their side of the street – there is unity and 20th-century politics. In the US tonight Whites and Latinos are likely pouncing on an African-American first and asking questions later – that is the extent of American political knowledge and ideology: identity politics, racial politics and “you and me against the world, babyeeee!”
Just like in France during every protest, of course: all the resources are being sent to defend the downtown and the rich areas – this is why those areas are so very, very rarely touched.
Americans are being reminded that politics is on the ground and defending your rights, community and nation – the Basij say: “You really would be wise to not invade Iran, you know.…”
The US cannot give good unemployment
Half the county is making better income by being unemployed than they ever did at their abusive job with wages which have been depressed for four decades. The US 1% made an enormous tactical error during the corona hysteria by giving nearly $1,000 per week in unemployment benefits because this admitted the fact that the money IS there – my God is it there, America is such a rich country – but it is being hoarded by the 1%.
Huge, huge anger is only going to build as this realisation grows firmer, and it will firm even if the US MSM continues to totally ignore this issue.
But you have people who – thank God! – are finally getting a living income without working like a dog, and thus they have the time and latitude to get political: they can afford to protest. People in France can afford to protest; and thus they realise they can’t afford to NOT protest. See how it’s a vicious cycle (from a 1%er’s view)?
So count on people – especially the student/youth class, whom nostalgic Boomer Westerners so foolishly assume will do all the heavy lifting to carry their society to the promised land – to take these decent wages as a license to protest until at least August 1.
After that, when the dole goes back to $400 and the 40 million lost jobs don’t come back by half but bills remain the same – expect more protests!
It’s like when some people meditate for the first time: they finally take an honest look inward and they are overwhelmed with guilt and shame over what jerks they were for so long. The US is a system which is proudly, brazenly, defiantly, dog-eat-dog, yet the Great Lockdown was based around an idea of humanely protecting the vulnerable. Moral awakening can be a very violent process, internally – the US 1% shouldn’t have given their debt-slaves this time to reflect.
The US is such a hyper-militarised culture that demanding an hyper-policed Great Lockdown despite having none of the collective unity, grassroots structures and pre-existing mechanisms of redistribution which socialist-inspired countries like Iran, China and others have (to repeat an idea I have boringly used at least 40 times in the past few months), naturally created enormous pent-up aggression. The US system is based around aggression, competition and instability – lock that up and deny an outlet – the dog will bite, because he has been chained for so long.
What was the US 1% thinking? That if everyone was ordered to stay at home to protect Grandma, that other classes wouldn’t get uppity and start to think that maybe they deserved some protection too? Spell it out with me: h-y-s-t-e-r-i-a. But like electing Trump: sometimes you gotta go backwards to go forward.
The US cannot end these rebellions anytime soon, much less permanently solve them
The West, despite their arrogance, is not strong enough to do whatever China does, and politics is not science but morality – the US cannot all of a sudden go from 1865 to 1949 (or in Iran’s case, 1979). This dog will chase its tail until at least the November election, and the rest of the world can truly be glad that the dog is not biting them for the time being.
It is not about race nor police brutality – but this old idea is so familiar and comfortable, which is why the MSM pushes it so hard: this is something entirely new. How can anybody look at the US and think that 2020 isn’t going to be a year of total chaos for them?
Which is why it’s so funny to hear the solution proffered by so many “woke” Americans during these rebellions: get out and vote.
Hahahahahahahaha, if you think telling “Joe Biden will save us” is a good answer to a protester, to a looter, to the half of the nation which is totally politically apathetic, to the quarter of the nation which is now unemployed, to the other quarter which is fed up with lousy wages, zero stability, skyrocketed costs to health care, tuition, rent, etc., then you are part of the reason why people are letting the US burn – because you foolishly believe in the Western liberal democratic aristocratic/bourgeois system.
The US system has no answer for what is going on, and this list was far from extensive.
Trump is not Huey Long but a hardcore corporate fascist, and he was so necessary to vote into office because he pulled the sheet off the American system.
How’s it look where you are?
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Corona contrarianism? How about some corona common sense? Here is my list of articles published regarding the corona crisis.
Ramin Mazaheri is the chief correspondent in Paris for Press TV and has lived in France since 2009. He has been a daily newspaper reporter in the US, and has reported from Iran, Cuba, Egypt, Tunisia, South Korea and elsewhere. He is the author of the books ‘I’ll Ruin Everything You Are: Ending Western Propaganda on Red China’ and the NEW ‘Socialism’s Ignored Success: Iranian Islamic Socialism’.
يتوزّع النقاش السياسي في لبنان هذه الأيام، على عنوانين، الأول هو قانون قيصر للعقوبات على سورية، والثاني الحملة التي تستهدف سلاح المقاومة. وينقسم اللبنانيون على أساس تصديق الفرضيتين، كمواضيع راهنة وحاضرة. وفي العنوان الأول ينقسمون بين من يدعو لعدم التقيّد بالعقوبات ومن يتحدث عن مرونة في تطبيقها ومن يدعو لاحترامها بصرامة. وفي العنوان الثاني ينقسمون بين متمسّك بالسلاح وداعٍ لنزعه وثالث يدعو لاستراتيجية وطنية للدفاع تنظم العلاقة بالسلاح. ويمكن لأي عاقل التدقيق بالموضوعين كعناوين سياسية ليكتشف ببساطة أنهما ليسا على جدول أعمال أي جهة جدية كمواضيع راهنة.
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عواصم العالم وفي مقدمتها واشنطن منشغلة بعنوانين مختلفين: الأول هو الحدث الأميركي الذي يصفه البعض بالزلزال الذي سيغيّر العالم، حيث يتهدّد الولايات الأميركية في ظل أوضاع اجتماعيّة تزداد تدهوراً نحو الفقر، مشاريع حروب أهلية وتفكك الدولة المركزية، وبحث عن تصور استشرافي لأميركا الجديدة، التي سيكون أبرز معالمها الانكفاء نحو الداخل. ومن بعده يحضر العنوان الثاني عبر رصد وتتبع تداعيات المواجهة مع وباء كورونا، التي لا تزال مستمرة في ظل ركود اقتصادي منذ شهور تتبعه حركة إفلاسات غير معلنة، وانحلال لنمط اقتصادي حكم العالم منذ سقوط الاتحاد السوفياتي، عنوانه الاقتصاد الافتراضي في صالات البورصات، والخدمات المصرفية الرديفة القائمة على الديون والرهونات، وصولاً للمراهنات، وصعود حتمي لاقتصاد الأصول القائم على الاهتمام بالمواسم الزراعية وإنتاج وتخزين السلع الحقيقية، ورد الاعتبار للاقتصاد الوطني غير المعولم. وفي الطريق حلول تدريجي للذهب مكان الدولار، والعنوانان العالميان الجديدان، يبدأ النقاش فيهما أميركياً، حيث يفترض وفق الصالونات اللبنانية، أن الانهماك قائم ليل نهار بكيفية تطبيق عقوبات قانون قيصر على سورية من بوابة لبنان، والتدقيق بدرجة تقيّد لبنان به، وبخطة بعض الأصوات للتحرك تحت شعار نزع سلاح حزب الله!
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الانهماك اللبناني بقانون قيصر ينفيه القانون نفسه، الذي تكفي قراءته لمعرفة انه أداة تخاطب قديمة مع روسيا، زالت ظروفها، لحجز مقعد أميركي في مشروع الحل السياسي في سورية. ويكفي النظر لعناوين تطالها العقوبات لمعرفة أن الانهماك به هو افتعال بلا مبرر، أما ملف سلاح المقاومة، فأبعد من أن يكون موضوعاً حاضراً، للأميركي الذي يستعد لحزم حقائبه من المنطقة، وسقف مساعيه لتفاهمات غير مباشرة عنوانها، لا تطلقوا النار نحن منسحبون، من دون أن يعني ذلك في العنوانين، أن الأميركي لا يرغب بالتسلية في الوقت الضائع، بانتظار تبلور الساعات الحاسمة وظروفها، طالما يجد في لبنان من يسمع وينفّذ ويهتم ويرتبك وينهَم، فلم لا يلعبون اللعبة، ويملأون الوقت بعناوين يريد بعض اللبنانيين تصديق جديتها، والاستقطاب حولها، والتقاتل.
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في هذا الوقت الضائع يبدو أن قانون قيصر بما شكّله من أداة حرب نفسية، مناسبة لابتزاز بعض القيادات السياسية بالإيحاء باستهدافها بالعقوبات، أملاً بتعديل تموضعها السياسي، أو إرباك هذا التموضع على الأقل، ومعه زرع الشكوك في التحالفات، فيما يبدو عنوان سلاح المقاومة الذي صار عند بعض «الثوار» الذين كانوا يطالبون حزب الله بالوقوف مع «ثورتهم»، هو سبب الأزمة الاقتصادية، مناسبة لتأسيس جبهة حلفاء الجيل الجديد للسفارة الأميركية في الحياة السياسية اللبنانية، مع وسم ذكرى السادس من حزيران موعداً لتحركهم، وهي ذكرى اجتياح كيان الاحتلال للبنان عام 1982، التي يجب أن يتم إحياؤها أمام السفارة الأميركية تنديداً بدورها في دعم كيان الاحتلال، وإعلاناً للتضامن مع الشعب الأميركي المنتفض بوجه العنصرية أسوة بما يحصل في باريس ولندن.
رغم انقشاع غيمة السقوط المدوّي للديمقراطية الأميركية على أعتاب جزمات ميليشيات ترامب وحراب الجيش الأميركي وشرطته القاتلة مؤقتاً، الا ان مجرد التفكير بهذا الامر من قبل رئيس أكبر دوحات الديمقراطيات الغربية إنما يمثل بحدّ ذاته سقوطاً مدوياً لكلّ معاييرهم المزدوجة والمخادعة والتي روّجوا لها زوراً وبهتاناً على مدى عقود طويلة!
فماذا كان يعدّ ترامب وميليشياته ليلة الانقلاب على «الديمقراطية»!؟
لم يكن هدف الرئيس الأميركي، ومن يقف وراءه من القوى العميقه في الولايات المتحدة، من وراء حملة التصعيد، التي نفذها ترامب ضدّ المتظاهرين السلميين، تبرير مواصلة استمرار العنف المفرط ضدّهم واتهامهم بالإرهاب والبلطجة وما الى ذلك، وإنما كان الهدف تنفيذ انقلاب عسكري، تمّ الإعداد له بدقة، من قبل القوى العميقة المذكورة أعلاه، وذلك عبر الخطوات التالية:
أولا ـ أن يقوم ترامب بإصدار أوامره للجيش الأميركي بالانتشار في مدن الولايات المتحدة الرئيسية، بحجة السيطرة على الأوضاع الامنية الخطيرة، وذلك في خرق واضح وفاضح للدستور الأميركي، الذي لا يعطيه هذا الحق وانما يحصره في حكام الولايات فقط.
ثانيا ـ ان يتمّ تعليق العمل بالدستور، بعد الخطوة الاولى، لحرمان المتظاهرين من حقهم الدستوري في التظاهر وحرية التعبير عن الرأي، وذلك تمهيداً لخلق او اختلاق ازمة بين المواطنين وبين قوات الجيش، وتحويل المواجهة الى مواجهة مسلحة، لا ينقصها الوقود. خاصة أنّ لدى القوى الأميركية العميقة مئات الآلاف من الميليشيات المسلحة والتي تمتلك حتى الاسلحة الثقيلة. وغنيّ عن القول طبعاً انّ هذه الميليشيات كانت ستوجه أسلحتها الى صدور المواطنين، بحجة مساندة الجيش في السيطرة على التمرّد.
وقد بدأت هذه الميليشيات بالانتشار في المدن الأميركية، وبلباس عسكري موحد وبأسلحتها الكاملة، ولكن دون اي إشارات او علامات عسكرية على ملابسها تحدّد تبعيتها.
ثالثاـ أما الخطوة التالية، في ما لو نجح مخطط القوى الأميركية العميقة، فإنها كانت تهدف الى نقل الرئيس الأميركي وفريق إدارته كاملاً، الى مجمع الحصون السرية والمسمّى: مجمع حصون جبال شيني (Chyenne Mountain Bunker) الموجود في ولاية كولورادو بحجة المحافظه على رئاسة الدولة، ليتمّ إثر ذلك تعيين الجنرال في سلاح الجو: تيرينس اوشاوغنيسي ( Terrence O‘shaughnessy )، حاكماً عسكرياً عاماً للولايات المتحدة الأميركية. وهو قائد القيادة الشمالية في الجيش الأميركي حالياً NORTHCOM المسؤولة عن الدفاع الجوفضائي في الولايات المتحدة وكندا.
ولم تكن عملية إنزال ترامب الى القبو المحصن، تحت البيت الابيض، يوم الجمعة إلا تجربة او تدريباً على عملية إخلاء أوسع، كالمشار اليها أعلاه، والتي نشرتها مجلة «نيوزويك» الأميركية قبل بضعة اسابيع.
رابعا ـ الا انّ وجود معارضة واسعة النطاق، في صفوف الجيش الأميركي، لسياسة التخبّط التي يمارسها ترامب، مدفوعاً من القوى العميقة (غير الدولة العميقة… انجيليين جدد وغيرهم من قوى الضغط)، بهدف تدمير الدولة الأميركية والقضاء على مبادئها وسمعتها داخلياً وخارجياً، قد دفعت العديد من جنرالات الجيوش الأميركية، الحاليين والسابقين، الى تجميع ما يزيد عن مائة ألف محارب قديم لتشكيل جبهة معارضة فعّالة، ضدّ سياسات ترامب المشبوهة، ولتشكل ايضاً قوة ضغط فاعلةً على المعسكر الداعم للرئيس. وكذلك لخلق شبكة أمان لجنرالات البنتاغون الحاليين، في وجه بطش الرئيس المدعوم من القوى العميقة، وتشجيعهم على رفض توجهات ترامب.
خامسا ـ وقد تتوّجت هذه الجهود، ورغم مرافقة الجنرال مارك ميللي، رئيس هيئة الاركان العامة المشتركة للجيوش الأميركية، الى زيارة الكنيسة الشهيرة في واشنطن قبل ايام، نقول انّ هذه الجهود قد تتوجت يوم الثلاثاء ٣/٦/٢٠٢٠، بظهور الجنرال مارك إسبر، وزير الدفاع الحالي، ليعلن عن معارضته لخطط ترامب، ومن يقف وراءه، لنشر الجيش في المدن الأميركية، ثم قيام الجنرال جيمس ماتس، وزير الحرب الأميركي السابق، الذي استقال من منصبه بسبب رفضه قرار ترامب بالانسحاب من سورية، في وقت سابق، بنشر رسالةٍ غاية في الحدة والوضوح والقوة، تحمل انتقادات حادة مدعومة بحجج غاية في المنطقية والقوة شارحةً، بشكل مفصل، للأخطار الشديدة التي تسبّبت بها، ولا زالت، سياسات ترامب والقوى العميقة، على مصالح الولايات المتحدة، داخلياً وخارجياً.
سادسا ـ ولم يكتفِ الجنرال ماتيس، وهو جنرال من سلاح المارينز منذ ٥٠ عاماً، ويتمتع باحترام واسع جداً في كافة أوساط القوات المسلحة الأميركية، نقول انه لم يكتف بالانتقاد والتفنيد فقط، وانما طالب بمحاسبة من هم مسؤولون عما يحدث حالياً في الولايات المتحدة. فقد قال في رسالته حرفياً، وباللغة الانجليزية، ايّ في النص الأصلي، قال :
» We must reject and hold accountable those in Office who Would make a mockery of our Constitution «.
وهذا الكلام لا يعني المحاسبة على خطأ صغير قد ارتكب هنا او هناك، اذ ان الرجل يقول: يجب ان نرفض (أو ان لا نقبل) بهؤلاء الموجودون في المكاتب (أيّ الذين يتقلدون المناصب) والذين يمكن ان يحوّلوا دستورنا الى مهزلةٍ (مسخرة او محطاً للسخرية).
وهذا الكلام يعني، نصاً وروحاً، الدعوة المباشرة لمحاكمة ترامب نفسه، وكل من يدعمه، في سياساته المعروفة للجميع.
سابعا ـ إذن فلقد كانت رسالة وزير الحرب السابق، الجنرال ماتيس، التي نشرت امس على نطاق واسع، ليست فقط الشعرة التي قصمت ظهر البعير، دونالد ترامب والقوى العميقة، وإنما كانت أيضاً إعلاناً عن انتصار هذا الجنرال لدستور البلاد وتطبيق نصوصه، التي تدعو الى مساواةٍ حقيقيه، وليس نظرية فقط، بين المواطنين الأميركيين، والعودة بأميركا الى مبادئ القيم والأخلاق المنصوص عليها في الدستور.
وبمعنى آخر فإنّ التحرك السريع والفعّال، للجنرال ماتيس، قد وضع حداً لعبث القوى الأميركية الخفية، الأمر الذي اضطر ترامب ان يعلن، أنه «قد لا يكون مضطراً لاستدعاء الجيش للسيطرة على الوضع».
ثامنا ـ وهذا يعني ان هناك، في الولايات المتحدة الأميركية، من يفكر بطريقة تختلف، عن طريقة تفكير الانجيليين الجدد. ذلك التفكير الذي لا يخرج عن اطار التآمر والعمل على إثارة الفتن والحروب ولا يتورع عن التآمر حتى على الولايات المتحدة الأميركية نفسها، وليس فقط في اقطار العالم كله، خدمة لمصالح دوائر رأسمالية بعينها، تمثل ليس فقط مجمع صناعة الأسلحة، في أميركا، وانما هي تتحكم برؤوس الأموال العظمى التي تسيطر على أسواق البورصات في العالم، وبالتالي الأدوات النقدية الدولية، التي يطلق عليها اسماء مثل صندوق النقد الدولي والبنك الدولي وبنك التنمية الأوروبي وما الى ذلك من أدوات تستخدمها هذه القوى في فرض العقوبات المالية والاقتصادية على الدول المختلف، تحت حجج الإصلاح الاقتصادي والمالي، أو الحفاظ على حقوق الإنسان، التي يدوسها مجرمو الشرطة الأميركية بأقدامهم، حتى الموت، في مينيابوليس الأميركية. فهل نجت أميركا حقاً من انقلاب ترامب وميليشياته!؟ وهل اقترب ترامب من الفصل الأخير من حياته ام انه لا يزال قادراً على تعطيل كلّ مظاهر الديمقراطية الأميركية المزيّفة أصلاً، ولكن بإجراءات جديدة ستقدم عليها ميليشياته المسلحة التي انتشرت في المدن الأميركية استعداداً لمفاجآت متعددة تحضر للمواطنين الأميركيين في دهاليز كولورادو وأقبية البيت الأبيض..!؟ هذا ما ستكشفه الأزمنة المتبقية من الان حتى نوفمبر المقبل..!
ماذا يجري في دهاليز السياسة الأميركية، على خلفية مقتل المواطن الأميركي ذي البشرة السوداء جورج فلويد خنقاً..!؟
ماذا يحضّر لمستقبل أميركا خلف الستار على عتبة استحقاق الانتخابات الرئاسية..!؟
هل يحضّر أمرٌ ما لن تظهره الشاشات الآن بسبب غبار معارك الشوارع بين الـ «انتيفا» والقوى الخفية ذات اليد العسكرية الطولى التي تخرج من بين عسكر أميركا..!؟
هل يخرج ترامب بطلاً قومياً من هذه المعارك ليعود العسكر فارضين شروطهم عليه ليتخلى عن شعاراته الانتخابية في العام 2016 أم يُطاح به ليتسلّم العسكر الحكم مباشرة وتتحوّل أميركا الى جمهورية موز، ومن ثم تبدأ رحلة تفكّك الفيدرالية والانقسام والحرب الأهلية وزوال القوة العظمى الأميركية على وقع تغريدات وخطوات «أبو ترامب البغدادي» العنصرية والمتوحشة، فيكون ترامب غورباتشوف أميركا في قرن أفولها وانقراضها..!؟
هذه الأسباب وغيرها في القراءة التالية:
اياً تكن أسباب تفجر المظاهرات الاحتجاجية، منذ ما يقارب الأسبوع، في الولايات المتحدة، وبغضّ النظر عن السبب المأساوي المباشر لذلك، أيّ مقتل الشاب الأسود جورج فلويد، وبنظرة موضوعية لا بدّ من التأكيد على ما يلي:
أولا ـ هناك قوى عميقة (ليست الدولة العميقة بالضرورة)، تحكم الولايات المتحدة، لها مصلحة في تصعيد المظاهرات وتسعير الصدامات والعمل على تحويل المواجهات الى مواجهات مسلحة.
ثانيا ـ لا يعني هذا الكلام تعارضاً مع الحقوق المشروعة، والمكفولة في الدستور الأميركي، لهؤلاء الأميركيين بالتظاهر والتعبير السلمي عن مطالبهم العادلة، لا بل الدستورية. ونعني بالدستورية هنا حق المواطن الأميركي من اصول افريقية في المساواة الكاملة والشاملة مع المواطنين البيض في البلاد.
ثالثا ـ وعليه فإن مطالب المتظاهرين الحاليّة، اي المطالبة بالعدالة، لا ترتقي الى مستوى حقوقهم الدستورية. تلك الحقوق (المساواة العملية بين الابيض والاسود) التي تجب المطالبة بتغيير أسس النظام الحاكم من أجل تحقيقها على ارض الواقع. وهذا يعني ضرورة إنهاء التقاسم الحزبي، بين الجمهوريين والديمقراطيين، للحكم في أميركا من دون إجراء اي تغييرات تذكر في مجال حقوق الانسان. اذ لا مساواة في ظل الطائفية السياسية السائدة في الولايات المتحدة والتي تشكل الضمانة الموضوعية لسيطرة العرق الأبيض على كل مفاصل الدولة وتفاصيلها.
رابعا ـ لكن مأزق القوى أو الطبقات المسحوقة في الولايات المتحدة، المواطنون من أصول افريقية وجنوب أميركية، يتمثل في عدم وجود تنظيم سياسي او حزب سياسي، يمثلهم ويقود نضالهم. وهذا يعود لما ذكرناه آنفاً، من الدكتاتورية السياسية، التي يفرضها الحزبان الجمهوري والديمقراطي، والتي هي أقرب ما تكون الى ديكتاتورية الطوائف التي نعرفها في بعض دول العالم الثالث وفي المملكة المتحدة (حكم البروتستانت ضد كاثوليك أيرلندا).
خامسا ـ خاصة انّ ما يتصدّر الاخبار والمعلومات المتداولة، حول القوى التي تحرك هذه الاحتجاجات، هو الحديث عن منظمة انتيفاAntifa ، والتي أعلنها الرئيس ترامب منظمة إرهابية، ما يثير الانطباع بأنها منظمة ثورية تحمل برنامجاً سياسياً يهدف الى إحداث تغيير جذري في الولايات المتحدة. بينما الحقيقة هي غير ذلك تماماً.
سادساـ لذا فإنّ توضيح ماهية هذا المسمّى ضروري جداً، من اجل فهم خلفياته وآفاقه وقدراته، وحتى إرادته في التغيير. فهذا المسمّى ليس حزباً سياسياً ولا منظمة سياسية عسكرية، كالجيش الجمهوري الأيرلندي مثلاً، بل انها مجموعة من التنظيمات الشبابية والطلابية الصغيرة المبعثرة على كل اتجاه سياسي، من أقصى اليسار الى أقصى اليمين، والتي لا تملك لا عقيدة موحدةً ولا برنامجاً سياسياً موحداً ولا خطط عمليات موحدة.
سايعا ـ وهي تنظيمات منتشرة في اوروبا وأميركا بشكل خاص، ومنذ بداية عشرينيات القرن العشرين، إثر استيلاء بيتينو موسوليني وحزبه الفاشي على الحكم في إيطاليا سنة 1922، وما تلا ذلك من محاولات لصعود القوى اليمينية المتطرفة في اوروبا الى الحكم، كمثل أدولف هتلر الذي حاول تدبير انقلاب عسكري للاستيلاء على الحكم في المانيا، وكذلك تحرك الجنرال فرانكو لقيادة القوى الفاشية في اسبانيا والجنرال سالازار في البرتغال…
كل ذلك دفع الى نشأة هذه الحركة، التي رفعت شعارات معاداة الفاشية والتطرف والنازية، وكانت لها فروع ونشاطات في فلسطين، الواقعة تحت الانتداب البريطاني آنذاك. ولكن ما كان يجمعها بالتنظيمات الموجودة في اوروبا هو شعار «التضامن مع إسرائيل» والتي لم تكن موجودة في تلك الحقبة.
ثامنا ـ إذن فما يطلق عليه اسم «أنتيفا» حالياً ما هو الا مظلة لمجموعات، تسمّي نفسها يسارية، تموّلها وتحركها، في حقيقة الأمر حالياً، القوى الخفية التي تحكم الولايات المتحدة الأميركية. وهي لا تزال ترفع شعار التضامن مع «إسرائيل» وتعتبرها «البقرة المقدّسة»، التي تجب رعايتها وتسمينها.
تاسعا ـ أما عن علاقة ذلك بما يدور حالياً من احتجاجات في الولايات المتحدة فتتمثل في أن القوى الخفية، التي تحكم هناك، وبرغم عدم ظهور أي دور واضح لها، الا انها تعمل على استغلال هذه التحركات الجماهيرية العادلة لمصلحة ممثله (القوى الخفية) الجالس في البيت الابيض، وذلك من خلال حملة التصعيد التي ينفذها ترامب والهادفة الى عسكرة المواجهات بهدف:
أ) إظهار نفسه كرئيس قوي، قادر على ضبط النظام والوقوف في وجه «المنظمات اليسارية» التي تعمل ضدّ مصالح الولايات المتحدة، حسب رأيه، وذلك في محاولة لإعادة تحشيد انصاره، من العنصريين البيض، بعد الأضرار التي لحقت بصورته بسبب فشله في ادارة ازمة كورونا داخلياً وفشله في ادارة التوتر مع الصين خارجياً، مما جعل جمهوره من المزارعين يتعرضون لأضرار وخسائر كبيرة، اثر قيام الصين بإلغاء العديد من صفقات المنتجات الزراعية التي كانت ستستوردها من الولايات المتحدة.
ب) تأجيج الصدام الداخلي، بشكل يوصله الى الصدام المسلح، وذلك بهدف تأجيل الانتخابات الرئاسية القادمة، اذا ما اتضح لترامب والقوى الخفية التي تدعمه انه لن يفوز في هذه الانتخابات.
وهذا يعني أن خطابه العنصري وتصرفاته الرعناء مدروسةً بعناية ومخطط لها بدقة وتهدف الى خلق الظروف المناسبة لإعادة انتخاب ترامب، وتحويله الى اداةٍ في ايدي تلك القوى الخفية، من أجل استغلاله لتنفيذ مشاريعهم العدوانية العسكرية، سواءً ضد الصين وروسيا او ضد إيران ومحور المقاومة. خاصة أنّ هذه القوى هي من المتطرفين الإنجيليين، المحافظين الجدد، الذين تربطهم مصالح عقائدية ومالية كبيرة مع الدوائر اليهودية التي تدعم نتن ياهو في الولايات المتحدة، والتي لا تتوانى عن إشعال الحروب، خدمة لمصالح تجمع الصناعات العسكرية الأميركية.
عاشرا ـ وفِي اطار التصعيد الكلامي والعملي، من قبل ترامب، والمُشار إليه أعلاه، فإنّ مرافقة رئيس هيئة الاركان العامة للجيوش الأميركية، الجنرال مارك اليكساندر ميللي للرئيس الأميركي، في زيارته البائسة لكنيسة يوحنا بولص الثاني، في واشنطن، وإن لم يظهر الجنرال ميللي في الصور إلا انّ آلاف الأميركيين قد شاهدوه هناك بالعين المجردة. وبالتالي فإنّ وجود الجنرال ميللي مع ترامب قد أجّجَ موجة الغضب العارمة، التي اجتاحت الاوساط الأميركية، رفضاً واستنكاراً لاستغلال ترامب للدين والمشاعر الدينية الإنسانية للمواطنين الأميركيين، لما لذلك من معانٍ، لا يمكن التستر عليها.
ومن بين أهمّ معاني حضور هذا الجنرال، الرفيع المنصب، ما يلي:
ـ تهديد رئاسي مباشر للمواطنين، الذين تمّ اجلاؤهم بالقوة من محيط الكنيسة، باستخدام القوة العسكرية للجيش الأميركي لقمعهم بإحباط تحركاتهم ومنعهم من ممارسة حقهم الدستوري في التعبير عن الرأي، ما يعتبر تعدياً على الدستور وحقوق الانسان يستوجب محاسبة مرتكب هذه الجريمة ومن تواطأ معه في ارتكابها (الجنرال ميللي) وتقديمهم للمحاكمة، حسب ما تنص عليه القوانين الأميركية.
ـ تحريض الرئيس ترامب، من قبل القوى الخفية الحاكمة في واشنطن، على اتخاذ المزيد من خطوات التصعيد ضد المتظاهرين، وذلك عبر الإيحاء له وللرأي العام الأميركي، بان الجيش يساند ترامب، في ما يتخذه من اجراءات قادت البلاد الى حالة غير مسبوقة من الانقسام والحقت أضراراً كبيرة بمصالح الولايات المتحدة وسمعتها الدولية وأظهرتها كدولة دكتاتورية تمارس أقسى درجات العنف ضد مواطنيها من دون أي مبرر لذلك.
وهو الأمر الذي يظهر نفاق الإدارة الأميركية الصارخ، اذ انها تتهم كل دول العالم تقريباً، بعدم احترام حقوق التعبير عن الرأي وتطالبها باحترام تلك الحقوق. ولكن شرطة ترامب «التي تحترم حقوق الإنسان»، قد داست رقبة المواطن الأميركي حتى قتلته خنقاً، مع ما يرافق ذلك من ألم وتعذيب لا يمكن تخيّل شدته. وهذه جريمة إضافية يجب ان يحاكم الرئيس الأميركي على ارتكابها، ليس فقط بصفته رأس الدولة، وانما بصفته مقصّراً في اتخاذ الإجراءات الإدارية والقانونية اللازمة، التي كان يجب ان تحول دون وقوع جريمةً مروعة كهذه.
من الآن حتى عشية الانتخابات الأميركية المرتقبة في تشرين الثاني/ نوفمبر المقبل، ستظلّ عيون العالم شاخصة الى واشنطن عاصمة الدولة الأعظم في العالم سابقاً والقوى الخفية التي تحاول الانتقام لهزيمة أميركا على أبواب بلاد الشام وبلاد الرافدين وأسوار صنعاء وتخوم إيران الثورة والاسلام ورجال الله في فلسطين ولبنان من معالوت الى إيلات ومن الجولان الى الجليل الى غزة وكل شبر من الضفة الغربية التي ساهم أهلها الصابرون والمحتسبون إلى جانب بحر أهلهم العرب والمسلمين في تهشيم وتقزيم جسم الإمبريالية الأميركية وتحويلها الى نمر من ورق..!
حتى ذلك اليوم نقول:
من كان يعبد أميركا وجبروتها فإنّ أميركا في حالة احتضار
ومن كان مخزّناً دولارات عليه أن يستبدلها بالتومان أو الروبل أو اليوان…
US President Donald Trump on Thursday shared a letter on Twitter that referred to the peaceful protesters who were forcibly dispersed from a park near the White House on Monday evening as “terrorists.”
The letter from veteran attorney and former Trump lawyer John Dowd appears to be addressed to former Secretary of War James Mattis and rebuts Mattis’ Wednesday statement castigating Trump’s response to the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
“The phony protesters near Lafayette were not peaceful and are not real,” Dowd’s letter claimed, without citing any evidence. “They are terrorists using idle hate filled students to burn and destroy. They were abusing and disrespecting the police when the police were preparing the area for the 1900 curfew.”
Trump’s decision to share the letter and its shocking description of Americans exercising their constitutional rights comes as he continues to lean into his strongman approach to the ongoing demonstrations. On Monday, he declared himself “your President of law and order” as the peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed with gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets, apparently so he could visit a nearby church.
He remained at the boarded-up building, brandishing a Bible for the cameras, for only a matter of minutes before returning to the White House.
The letter drew condemnation from the Modern Military Association of America, a nonprofit organization.
“Donald Trump just crossed a very serious line that demands swift and forceful condemnation by every Member of Congress,” said the group’s interim executive director, Air Force veteran Jennifer Dane. “Promoting a letter that labels American citizens peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights as ‘terrorists’ is an egregious breach of his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Now more than ever, it is absolutely crucial that Trump be held accountable for his reckless actions.”
The episode followed nearly a week of protests across the country that at times have turned violent over the death of Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis.
In response to the President’s approach, Mattis released a statement Wednesday cautioning that the US “must reject any thinking of our cities as a ‘battlespace’ that our uniformed military is called upon to ‘dominate.’ “
“At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare occasions, by state governors. Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C., sets up a conflict – a false conflict – between the military and civilian society,” Mattis wrote.
The President has repeatedly defended his response to the protests and even tweeted later Thursday evening that he didn’t have a problem with the National Guard helicopter that was seen flying low over protesters in Washington on Monday night.
The District of Columbia National Guard is investigating the matter and an inquiry has also been requested by Secretary of War Mark Esper.
“The problem is not the very talented, low-flying helicopter pilots wanting to save our city, the problem is the arsonists, looters, criminals, and anarchists, wanting to destroy it [and our Country]!” Trump tweeted.
The helicopter had a “stated mission” in part to “deter” criminal activity including rioting and looting by keeping a presence overhead, according to a defense official who has direct knowledge of the orders the crew was given. The official declined to be identified because the Washington National Guard is now investigating whether flights were conducted appropriately.
The Lakota UH-72 was also supposed to also deter “unlawful assembly,” provide medical evacuation from the crowd if needed and provide surveillance to command and control for force protection, the official said.
The investigation, the official said, is focusing on how those orders resulted in the low-level flights, which sent debris flying and intimidated civilians, the official said.
Summary of Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (28 May – 03 June 2020)
Israeli occupation forces continued to commit crimes against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, IOF killed 2 Palestinians, including a disabled person, and wounded another in less than 15 hours in excessive use of lethal force in two separate incidents in Ramallah and East Jerusalem.
Additionally, this week witnessed an escalation in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses and properties in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including the demolition of 7 houses, 4 of which were self-demolished, and 200 commercial facilities in Jerusalem received demolition and eviction notices; as well as, wide-scale land-razing and demolition notices distributed to houses and properties in the West Bank.
This week, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 180 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. The restrictions imposed under the state of emergency have hindered our fieldwork team’s ability to cover all incidents in the oPt and were forced to collect information via phone from trusted local sources. As such, this report is an in-comprehensive record of Israeli violations of human rights against Palestinians in the oPt, as IOF continues its attacks against civilians despite the exceptional circumstances that have overcome the whole world in the face of a life-threatening pandemic.
IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: IOF shot and killed 2 Palestinians, including a disabled person, in two separate incidents of excessive use of lethal force in Ramallah and East Jerusalem. On 30 May 2020, IOF killed Iyad al-Hallaq, a person with disability (PWD), while he was en route to his school in East Jerusalem. PCHR investigations indicate that Israeli police personnel shot al-Hallaq despite being informed that he had a disability and shot him at zero distance while he laid on the ground wounded, which prove the soldiers intended to kill him without cause and without him posing any danger or threat to their lives. A day earlier, IOF killed Fadi Qa’d on suspicion of an intent to ram soldiers with his car in Ramallah. Furthermore, IOF wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child that was arrested after being shot; a person with disability; and a journalist in Kufur Qaddoum in Qalqilia.
In Gaza, 3 shootings against agricultural lands eastern Gaza Strip were reported; and once against fishing boats sailing in northern Gaza sea.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 85 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, inciting fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 98 Palestinians were arrested, including 10 children and 4 women that included a journalist. The majority of arrests occurred in East Jerusalem, and targeted prominent religious and political figures who were detained for several hours before release with restraining orders from al-Aqsa Mosque grounds.
Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks: IOF continued its settlement expansion operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 19 violations, including: demolition of 5 rooms and 4 residential tents, 2 agricultural rooms, 9 demolition notices for two houses and small residences and properties in Hebron; a plot of land confiscated and 7 houses demolished, 4 of which were self-demolished by orders from IOF and wide-scale demolition and eviction notices were handed to 200 facilities in East Jerusalem; 5 notices to demolish 3 houses and 2 cabinets in Ramallah; work-halted at a excavation site, street reconstruction, and a settler-road established in Bethlehem; irrigation networks dismantled, 3 construction vehicles and water tank confiscated in Jericho; 4 barracks, 52 solar cells, 12 tables; 5 tons of barley and 3 tons of fodder confiscated in Nablus; 6 residential barracks made of tin plates and iron were demolished in Jericho.
PCHR also documented 3 settler attacks: Assaults on Palestinians and attempted to ram one with a car in Hebron; and farmers were evicted from land in Bethlehem.
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement: The Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Furthermore, IOF uses Erez Crossing that is designated for movement of individuals as an ambush to arrest Palestinians who obtain permits to exit via Israel.
Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.
1. Violation of the Right to Life and to Bodily Integrity: Shooting and other Violations
At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 28 May 2020, an Israeli infantry unit stormed al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They indiscriminately fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in the camp’s main road, claiming that the Israeli military watchtower established on a bypass road, east of the camp, was stoned. The Israeli unit withdrew later from the camp. Neither casualties nor house raids were reported.
At the same time, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Buraij in central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian shepherds, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 29 May 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian shepherds, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 13:00 on the same Friday, IOF stationed at the northern entrance to Kufur Qaddoum village, north of Qalqilia, suppressed a protest in which dozens of Palestinian civilians participated. IOF chased young men who gathered in the area as clashes erupted. IOF fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the young men. As a result, 4 civilians, including a journalist, were shot and injured with rubber bullets in their lower extremities. The wounded journalist, Nidal Eshtiyah (46), who works at the Chinese News Agency, was shot with a rubber bullet in his thigh.
In a new crimes of excessive use of lethal force, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian, alleging that he attempted to ram Israeli soldiers with his car; northwest of Ramallah. According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 16:30 on Friday, 29 May 2020, IOF stationed at Raya valley area, between al-Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam villages, in front of “Halamish” settlement, northwest of Ramallah, opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle driven by Fadi Adnan Samara Qa’d (37) from Abu Qash village, northwest of Ramallah. Qa’d was shot directly with a live bullet and left to bleed for more than two and a half hours, without being given any first aid. Hours later, an Israeli vehicle arrived and took Qa’d to an unknown destination. Later, Israeli Authorities announced Qa’d’s death due to Israeli forces’ shooting, alleging the victim attempted to ram Israeli soldiers with his car; no casualties among soldiers were reported.In contrast with the Israeli claims, according to information obtained by PCHR, Qa’d was driving his private Ford-Fiesta car (white) en route to al-Saweya village in Salfit to pick up his wife and 5 children from their Grandfather’s house. Qa’d was met by an Israeli military vehicle parked in the street, six soldiers stepped out from the vehicle, and 3 of them ordered him to stop before he reached the military vehicle. Qa’d lost control of his car and steered his car north-bound, in the opposite direction from where the soldiers stood, and collided with a wooden bench under a tree. IOF, from a 10-meter distance, immediately opened fire at Qa’d’s car, and wounded him while he was inside. The soldiers left him to bleed for more than two hours and half, without providing any first aid, and prevented the Palestinian ambulances from approaching him. He was later taken to an unknown destination. It should be noted that Qa’d’s car did not pose a threat or danger to the soldiers’ lives, and the fact it steered towards the opposite side from where soldiers stood proves the was no intent to ram them.After the news of Qa’d’s murder, dozens of Palestinians from al-Nabi Saleh village gathered, threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed in the area and clashes erupted as the later responded with live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, Ahmed Eyad al-Tamimi (21), a disabled person with down syndrome, was shot with a live bullet in his left leg, and he was referred to the Istishari Arab Hospital in al-Rihan suburb, in Ramallah for treatment.
At approximately 06:30 on Friday, 29 May 2020, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands, east of Khuza’ah village, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
In a new crime of extra-judicial execution, IOF shot dead a disabled Palestinian civilian, while he was heading to his school in East Jerusalem. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli police officers shot dead the said civilian, despite some warnings that he was disabled from a zero range while lying on the ground and wounded, indicating that the victim was deliberately killed without justification and without posing a threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers.According to information obtained by PCHR, at approximately 06:15 on Saturday, 30 May 2020, Israeli police at al-Mujahideen Street, near Bab al-Asbat area, fired live bullets at disabled man, Iyad Khairy al-Hallaq (32), killing him immediately. Al-Hallaq was en route to a special education school for persons over the age of 18, near the King Faisal Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a result, was shot dead with several live bullets.Israeli police claimed that they noticed “a Palestinian carrying a suspicious object that they thought was a gun and ordered him to stop. After the man refused and started fleeing the scene, the officers started chasing him on foot and opened fire, ultimately killing him.” In a subsequent statement, the Israeli Police announced that the victim was unarmed, and that he had been shot with 8 bullets.
At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 31 May 2020, IOF suppressed a protest organized by dozens of activists and civilians to commemorate the 19th anniversary of Faisal Abdul-Qadir al-Huseini’s death, Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), at Beit al-Sharq, which is closed in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Eyewitnesses stated that IOF surrounded the protest, closed the street and handed over the protestors a ban decision signed by the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, alleging that the protest is sponsored by the PA, and it did not obtain necessary authorization in accordance with ” Identifying Activities” agreement. IOF also arrested Adnan Adek Tawfiq Ghaith (46), Jerusalem’s Mayor, Nasser Qaws (49), Head of Prisoners Club in Jerusalem, Awad al-Salaimah (48), Member at Fateh Movement in Jerusalem, tribal leader Abed al-Salaimah, Ishaq, Ishaq and Marwan al-Ghoul. IOF further handed summonses to other civilians. On the next day morning, Israeli authorities released Mayor Ghaith without conditions.
At the same time, IOF suppressed a protest, called for by a youth movement in Jerusalem, at Damascus Gate in the center of occupied East Jerusalem, in which dozens of Palestinian civilians participated to condemn the killing of Iyad al-Hallaq, who was disabled. When the protestors chanted slogans condemning the killing of al-Hallaq, IOF surrounded the area and established steal barriers and forcibly evacuated the area of participants. IOF also chased the participants and attacked some of them by beating and pushing them and arrested Ahmed Montaser Abu Sbaih (23).
At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 31 May 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed at the western entrance to Kafer Malek village, northeast of Ramallah, indiscriminately fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at civilians’ houses in al-Tarbi’ah area, adjacent to Bypass Road (60), alleging that they were stoned. As a result, Rasem Suleiman Ghurrah (15) was shot with a rubber bullet in his foot. Israeli soldiers arrested Rasem and released on Monday, 01 June 2020. Rasem was transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah for medical treatment.
At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 02 June 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia chased and sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 nautical miles). Israeli artillery also fired smoke shells in the vicinity of the fishing boats. As a result, fishermen panicked and fled to shore, fearing for their lives. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 00:14 on Wednesday, 03 June 2020, IOF suppressed a protest with al-Aqsa Mosque Khatib, Sheikh Akramah Sabri, in front of his house in al-Sowanah neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. IOF attacked the participant by beating and pushing them and arrested 3 of them.Eyewitnesses stated that IOF surrounded the vicinity of Sheikh Sabri’s house before the protest begins. Noon prayers were scheduled to be held followed by the protest and press conference, before the sheikh went to “Al-Qashla” Investigation Center after he was summoned to it. IOF intended to renew the decision to deny Sheikh Sabri’s access to al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF fixed a decision by the Israeli police chief to ban any event in solidarity with the sheikh at the door of his house.Eyewitnesses added that IOF checked the participants’ ID cards, maltreated them, and arrested some of them. Some of the arrestee were identified as: Jihad Abi Znaid (53), Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)’s Member; Sheikh Abdullah Alqam, Secretary-General of the Tribes in Jerusalem and Palestine; and Hamdi Diab, Head of Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee in Jerusalem. IOF also handed summonses to journalists Ahmed Othman Jalajel (41) and Murad Saeed, who were covering the protest. IOF further attacked 3 lawyers, who were in the area, namely: Khalid Zabarqah, Medhat Dibah, and Hamzah Qatinah.It should be noted that IOF arrested Sheikh Sabri from his house last Friday and denied him access to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week. IOF summoned him on Wednesday for investigation to deny him access again for several months.
2. Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 28 May 2020:
At approximately 02:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles, moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Omar Abdulmohdi Shawar’s (25) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qafin, north of Tulkarem. They raided and searched several houses belonging to Karam Ra’ed Mohammed Ammar (28) and Abdul Rahim Waleed Sabah (26) and arrested them.
At approximately 03:40, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarem. They raided and searched Mahmoud Nabil Odwan’s (22) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians: Nour Bashar Abu Baker (23), his brother (21), and Mohammed Reyad Turkman (20).
Around the same time, IOF moved into Qabaitia, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched Mohammed Ma’moun Abu al-Rab’s (19) house and arrested him.
At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Misilya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched Abdulsalam Nabih Abu al-Rab’s (22) house and arrested him.
At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Fareed Tareq al-Tirawi’s (19) house and arrested him.
At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Wadi Hilweh neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Ibrahim Bidoun’s house and arrested his two sons; Dia’ (27) and Mohammed (24). Dia’ and Mohammed were taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ahmed Mohammed Derbas’s (26) house and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services.
IOF carried out an incursion in Dirastia, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 29 May 2020:
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Dawoud Mousa al-Abbasi’s house and arrested his son Eissa (35). It should be noted that Eissa al-Abbasi is a former prisoner in the Israeli prisons for 10-years, and he was released before several hours.
At approximately 08:00, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint established near Bir al-Basha Gas Station, southwest of Jenin, arrested two students; Mohammed Emad Shawkat Sa’abneh (18), from Fahma village, and Mohammed Amjad Shibani (18), from ‘Arraba, southwest of Jenin. IOF arrested them a day before the high school final exams while they were in a red Hyundai car belonging to Mohammed, and they were taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 08:10, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint established at the eastern entrance of Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin, arrested Jihad Mohammed Turkman (30), from the village. IOF confiscated his motorcycle and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 09:30, IOF banned the Reconstruction Committee staff in Hebron’s Old City, from doing maintenance and repair work in the Ibrahimi Mosque claiming that they did not own a permit from the Israeli Authorities. It should be noted that the Department of Awqaf and Religious Affairs is the responsible authority for maintenance work, in coordination with the Hebron Reconstruction Committee.
At approximately 12:30, IOF arrested Hanadi Mohammed al-Halawani (41), near Bab al-Asbat “Lions’ Gate”, which is one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in Jerusalem, and took her to Bab al-Silsila “Chain Gate”. IOF investigated with al-Halawani for several hours and then released her on condition that ban her entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week and refer to them after two weeks to expand the period of previous decision.
At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into al-Sawana neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched ‘Akrama Sa’eed Abdullah Sabri’s (81) house, Head of the High Islamic Supreme Council and preacher of al-Aqsa Mosque, and took him to “al-Qashla” investigation center in West Jerusalem. At approximately 16:30, IOF released him after the investigation on condition that banning his entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week and refer again on Wednesday.
At approximately 13:35, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint on the entrance of Derastia village, south of Salfit, arrested Mohammed Khaldoun Ridwan (22), from Azoun village, east of Qalqilia.
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into al-Thawri neighborhood, south of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Yehya al-Daqaq’s (26) house and arrested him.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Tal village, southwest of Nablus, and Beit Dajan, northeast of Nablus. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 30 May 2020:
At approximately 23:00, Israeli infantry unit moved into Ein al-Lawza neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched two houses and arrested two children; Mohammed Nihad Jaber (16) and Mohannad Ali al-Natsha (16).
Sunday, 31 May 2020:
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ein al-Lawza neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Abdul Men’em Jebril al-A’war’s (51) house and arrested him.
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into al-Ram village, north of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched the guard of al-Aqsa Mosque’s house, Tareq Bassam Abu Sbaih (39), and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services.
At approximately 10:00, IOF arrested (5) civilians including 2 women, one of them is a journalist, while attempting to deport the Palestinian worshippers protesting the settlers’ invasions into the grounds of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Islamic Awqaf Department noted that 233 settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate under a high protection by the IOF and Israeli officers. IOF arrested the Jerusalem journalist Sundos Abdul Rahman Abu Baker Owais (24) while she was documenting the settlers’ storming, despite showing her press card. IOF also arrested Ra’eda Sa’eed al-Khalili (44), Lo’ay Jaber (24), Ehab Abu Snaina (18), Fadi Zughayar, and Obada Samir Najeeb (22). It should be noted that the Israeli Authorities released the journalist Owais on condition that banned her entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week.
At approximately 18:00, IOF stationed at Jaba’ military checkpoint, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem, arrested Younis Ra’ed Mizher (21) while passing through the checkpoint. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
Monday, 01 June 2020:
At approximately 01:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into al-Tabaqa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses and arrested Ahmed Salama Abu Ras (38) and Faker Sharif Abu Ras (24).
At approximately 01:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Ahmed Jamal al-Badawi (33) and Ateya Mahmoud al-Najjar (23).
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Anbata, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Abdullah Mustafa Barakat (25) and Mohammed Saleem Hannoun (26) and arrested them.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qafin, north of Tulkarem. They raided and searched Nidal Arafat Khasib’s (26) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Beit Ammer, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses and arrested Khalil Eyad Bassam al-Za’aqiq (16) and Ameen Emad Mohammed al-Slaibi (17).
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Shwaikla Suburb, east of Tulkarem. They raided and searched Samir Subhi Mohammed Mahdawi’s (16) house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:20, IOF moved into Bil’in village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched Hamza Thabit al-Khatib’s (22) house and arrested him.
At approximately 05:20, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbeya, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians: Amro Mohammed Abu Qarea’ (19), Mohammed Rabah Hannoun (28), and his brother Ahmed (26). Rabah Hannoun, the father of Mohammed and Ahmed said that the Israeli Intelligence officer called him and ordered him to surrender his third son Mahmoud in Ofer detention in Betounya village, west of the city.
At approximately 07:15, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint established in the entrance of Salim village, northeast of Nablus, arrested (3) civilians including a child. The arrestees are: Mohammed Reyad Arayshi (20), Ayham Mustafa Arayshi (20), and Wael Hussam Abu Mustafa (17); all from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Sa’deya neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Rawhi Mahmoud al-Kalghasi (24) and Jehad Nassar Qaws (25) and arrested them.
At approximately 10:30, IOF arrested Khadija Mohammed Khwais (24) near Bab al-Asbat “Lions’ Gate”, which is one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in Jerusalem, and took her to Bab al-Silsila “Chain Gate” police station. IOF investigated with her for several hours and then released her on condition that ban her entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week and refer to them after two weeks to expand the previous decision’s period.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin, and Sebastia, northwest of Nablus. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 02 June 2020:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Issawiyah village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians including 2 children: Rawhi Ahmed al-Jayyar (13), Dia’ Ayman Obaid (24), Mahmoud Mohammed Mustafa (16), and Yasin Hasan Mustafa (19). And handed Mohammed Esmat Obaid (19) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Kobar village, north of Ramallah. They raided Khaldoun Rawhi al-Barghouthi’s (40) house and arrested him.it should be noted that the above-mentioned civilian is a former prisoner.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched Ahmed Yousef Awwad’s (45) house in al-Makhfeya neighborhood, southwest of the city and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Ein Beit al-Ma’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They raided and searched Dawoud Waleed Abed Saleh’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:15, IOF moved into Bita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Karam Eisa Dawoud (23) and Lo’ay Tayseer Dwaikat (19) and arrested them.
At approximately 03:20, IOF reinforced with three military vehicles, moved into Beit Rima village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched ‘Ahd Hazem al-Rimawi’s (18) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Tal village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched Abdul Rahman Ahmed Ayyoub Aseeda’s (50) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Kafl Hares village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched 3 houses belonging to Khalil Fo’ad Abu Ya’qoub (22), Ali Mahmoud al-Qaq (20), and Islam Suliman Bouzeya (22), and arrested them.
At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched Fathi Mohammed al-‘Attoum’s (42) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Jabareet neighborhood, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched Khaled Suliman Fayez Abu Hasan’s (53) house and arrested him. It should be noted that Abu Hasan is the Reform and Change Bloc deputy in the Legislative Council, and he was dissolved by the Palestinian Authority.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of the city. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians: Mohammed Jamal al-Nabhan (20), a student in the Faculty of Dentistry at the American Arab University, Emad Jamal Abu al-Hija (32), and Mohammed Azmi al-Nasharti (28).
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed As’ad Bader’s (26) house and arrested him.
At approximately 14:00, IOF arrested Eyad Saleh Mohammed Nofal (17), from Qalqilya, while investigating with him in the Israeli liaison office, after summonsing him several hours before of arresting him. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 18:00, IOF stationed at Za’tara military checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, arrested Hisham Nayef Ahmed Bushkar (21), from Askar al-Jadeed refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 21:40, IOF arrested Eyad Husni Abdul Naser (43), from al-Shwaika Suburb, north of Tulkarm, while investigating with him in the Israeli liaison office, after summonsing him several hours before of arresting him.
IOF carried out (3) incursions in Burham, Deir Ghasana, and Kafr Ein villages in Ramallah. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 03 June 2020:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Issawiyah village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Haitham Mustafa’s (20) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Ne’man Naser Bani Awda’s (25) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Fare’a refugee camp, southeast of Tubas, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Zakareya Fayez Jameel Awad’s (25) house and arrested him.
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Silwad, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mousa Ahmed Hamed’s (26) house and arrested him. It should be noted that the above-mentioned civilian was previously imprisoned by Israel.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Qitna village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ashraf Ibrahim Hasan Shamasna’s (37) house and arrested him.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al- Issawiyah village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Mousa Darwish’s (65) house and arrested him.
At approximately 18:00, IOF stationed at Za’tara military checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Doa’ Ramadan Kamel Arafa (21), from Izbit Shofa, south of Tulkarem, while passing through the checkpoint. It should be noted that she is a student at the Faculty of Economics at Palestine Technical University / Kadoorie, and she was taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 19:00, IOF arrested Khattab Ala’ al-Sharbati (16) while present near Bab Hatta, one of the Aqsa Mosque’s Gates in the occupied East Jerusalem. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
3. Settlement Expansion and Settler Violence in the West Bank a. Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 28 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-Tiba village, northwest of Hebron. IOF demolished 3 agricultural rooms, under the pretext of non-licensing. Israeli authorities notified to demolish the mentioned rooms on 19 May 2020, upon Article 4, of Military order No. (1797), issued in 2018, on the “removal” of a new structure. This order includes both uncompleted structures and structures completed within the last six months. Thus, a Palestinian living in the targeted areas are unable to take any legal action or challenge before the Israeli courts.The facilities demolished were as follows:Owner/Facility/Construction Materials/Area/Construction Year/Cost/Family members1. Wael Mohamed Salama Ja’afrah/agricultural room, bath room/Concrete and bricks/26.5 s.q/2018/NIS 25,000/12 2. Ahmed Mohamed Salama al-‘Awiwi/agricultural room/Concrete and bricks/70 s.q/2018/NIS 50,000/4 3. Raied Mohamed Salama Ja’afrah/agricultural room, bath room/Concrete and bricks/71.5 s.q/2018/NIS 45,000/5
On Thursday, 28 May 2020, Israeli authorities issued an order to confiscate a plot of land in Wadi al-Rababa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and use it as a cemetery for Jews. The neighborhood residents said that Israeli authorities issued an order to confiscate over 1.5 dunams belonging to al-‘Abasi family and others in order to use it as a cemetery for Jews. The Israeli authorities gave the affected Palestinians 2 weeks to challenge before the competent courts. The residents clarified that the Israel Nature and Antiquities Authorities started to build fake graves in Wadi al-Rababa years ago, especially that there are large areas of land and their owners are prohibited from building on or cultivating. Over the past years, the Israeli Municipality issued several confiscation orders against hundreds of dunums to establish settlement projects, such as the confiscation of 100 dunums to establish national park and the confiscation of other areas to establish tourist routes and bridges and connect al-Thawri neighborhood with al-Nabi Dawad area.
At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 28 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-Naqqar area, west of al-Tira village, southwest of Ramallah. The Israeli Civil Administration officers handed 5 demolition notice for 3 under-construction houses and wooden huts, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.The notified facilities belong to:1. Shareef Ibrahim ‘Ali Hameed, an inhabited 160-square-meter house sheltering 8 members, including 4 children. 2. Osama Ahmed Isma’il, a 100-square-meter house sheltering 8 members, including 6 children. 3. Ahmed Yoused Sa’ied, foundations of an under-construction house. 4. Mostafa ‘Abed Mostafa, a wooden hut. 5. ‘Ali Ahmed Daib, a wooden hut.
On Thursday, 28 May 2020, Israeli authorities stop construction works in a house in ‘Artas village, south of Bethlehem. Atras village council stated that, IOF moved into Solomon’s tourist pools area and stopped construction works in Omar Mostafa ‘Odah’s house , under the pretext of non-licensing. The council added that IOF detained 4 workers and threatened the excavator owner Saied Abu Sawi to surrender himself along with the excavator.
On Friday, 29 May 2020, IOF ordered to stop working on a road rehabilitation project in Rashaida village, east of Bethlehem. Rashaida village council stated that IOF ordered workers at the site to immediately stop working, under the pretext of being an Israeli-controlled area, or otherwise the workers will being arrested and their equipment confiscated.
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, Fares al-Khales implemented the Israeli Municipality order and self-demolished his under-construction house in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-Khales said that before starting the construction, he headed to the Israeli Municipality, but it refused to grant him a construction license because there are no structural maps that respond to the natural increase in the number of the local residents, and for that reason, there are no house licenses. Al-Khales clarified that he decided to build his unlicensed 110-square-meter house, but a short period later, the municipality inspectors came to the house and handed him a notice to self-demolish his house or the municipality staff will do so and force him to pay the demolition costs. Al-Khales rented construction vehicle and self-demolished his house.
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 31 May 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Kherbet Bereen, southwest of Bani Na’iem village, east of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers distributed final demolition notices for houses and an institution building, under the pretext of non-licensing. On 23 January 2020, Israeli authorities distributed notices to stop construction works in Palestinians houses, village council building and 2 water wells in Bereen village, under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C. These notifications issued by the “Civil Administration – Supreme Organizing Council – Inspection Subcommittee” stated that these buildings were “constructed without a license”, called on their owners to “immediately stop construction work” and set (2/22/2020) as the date to hold the Inspection Subcommittee session in the settlement “Beit Eill” to decide either demolish the building or return it to its previous status.The distributed notices were as follows:affected person/ facility/ Area/ Construction Materials/ Family members/ Construction year1. Basheer ‘Abed al-Ghani Ibrahim Burqan/ house/ 40 s.q/ Bricks and tin plates/ 11/ 2017 2. Noor ‘Abed al-Ghani ‘Abed al-Rahman Burqan/ house/ 70 s.q/ Bricks and tin plates/ 1/ 2017 3. Noor ‘Abed al-Ghani ‘Abed al-Rahman Burqan/ Water well/ 150 s.q/ 1/ 2017 4. Samer Mahmoud Burqan/ house/ 100 s.q/ Concrete/ 10/ 5. Samer Mahmoud Burqan/ Water well/ 100 s.q/ 10/ 6. The village council building/ Services center/ 40 s.q/ Bricks and tin plates/ -/ 2017 7. ‘Ata Na’iem Ibrahim Burqan/ house/ 120 s.q/ Concrete/ 7/ 2017
On the same day, Israeli authorities notified to vacate at around 200 commercial and industiral facilities in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and gave their owners until the end of 2020. Kamal ‘Obeidat, head of the Jerusalem’s Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the demolition orders targeting 200 facilities, including restaurants, recreational centers and car repair shops located in one of the liveliest areas, were issued with the approval of Israel’s so-called planning and building committee. ‘Obeidat added that the decision aims at taking over the only Palestinian-owned industrial area in occupied East Jerusalem in order to further Judaize the holy city, alter its identity and destroy the Palestinian economy, forcing Jerusalemites deal with the Israeli industrial areas. According to an Israeli report, broadcast on Israeli channel (12), the Israeli Planning and Building Committee aims to remove the industrial area in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, and establish special technology buildings (high-tech), huge commercial complexes, and large restaurants on an area of 250,000 square meters. The report indicated that some of the buildings that will be built, will comprise of 16 floors.
On Monday, 01 June 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Kherbet ‘Allan, north of al-Jeftlik area, north of Jericho. IOF were deployed in the area, where they raided and searched 3 houses. The Israeli Civil Administration officers dismantled Moneer Nasasrah and Ibrahim Salem’s 30 water irrigation networks and confiscated them. IOF also arrested 5 civilians identified as Ameen Fayiz ‘Anoud (35), Jum’a Mohamed al-Jahaleen (23), and Anwar Mahmoud Abu Juda (50) along with his 2 sons Raied (26) and Jehad (29). IOF confiscated Anwar Juda ‘s 2 bulldozers and ‘Abed al-Raheem Itrimat’s agricultural tractor and a water well.
At approximately 21:00 on Monday, 01 June 2020, Majed Mohamed Suliman Ja’abees implemented the municipality order and self-demolished his house located in al-Mukaber Mount area, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Ja’abees said that the Israeli police refused to give him few days to self-demolish his house and insisted to implement the demolition within 2 days. Ja’abees clarified that the building is comprised of 2 houses built in an area of 160 square meter 6 months ago. The houses were sheltering his family comprised of 7 members and his brother’s family comprised of 4 members. Ja’abees added that he paid NIS 15,000 for the lawyer in an attempt to stop the demolition, but in vain. Ja’abees pointed out that he was forced to self-demolish his house to avoid paying the demolition costs estimated at NIS 70,000 for the Israeli municipality staff.
At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 02 June 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Municipality staff moved into Torbet Sawarha area in al-Mukaber Mount, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They imposed a security cordon on 2 under construction houses belonging to Mohamed and Taher Ibrahim al-Za’atrah and prevented anyone from approach the area. IOF and municipality staff demolished the houses, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mohamed Za’atrah said that he was shocked when IOF raided their houses and demolished them, pointing out that he and his brother built the 250-square-meter houses in April 2019. It should be noted that Israeli municipality staff escalated their attacks against al-Mukaber Mount area, as they distributed 27 notices in the last week to demolish residential and commercial facilities.Since the beginning of 2019 until now, over 80 residential and commercial facilities and retaining walls were demolished by IOF. Also, it should be noted that the residents of al-Mukaber Mount area like the inhabitants of the rest of the Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem, are deprived of licensing, expanding and renovating their houses. The Palestinian citizen in occupied East Jerusalem submits an application for the Israeli Municipality to obtain a license and waits for many years. During which, he is forced to pay high financial sums and eventually most of these applications are rejected. Around the same time, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Dir al-‘Asal village, west of Dura, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers hanged demolition notices issued by the Military Commander of the Judea and Samaria Region on 2 houses, under the pretext of construction near the annexation wall.The notices were as follows:1. Fayiz Hasan Shawamrah’s 150-square-meter under-construction house comprised of one floor 2. Saddam Fawzi Hasan Shawamrah’s 180-square-meter under-construction house comprised of 2 floors
On Tuesday,02 June 2020, ‘Alaa Ahmed Ibrahim Burqan implemented the Israeli municipality order and self-demolished his house in al-Mukaber Mount area, south of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Burqan said that on Sunday, the Israeli District Court issued a demolition order against his house, so he was forced to self-demolish it to avoid paying the demolition costs estimated at NIS 10,000 for the municipality staff. Burqan clarified that after a long struggle with the Israeli Municipality for 4 years, he failed to stop the demolition order. Burqan added that in 2017, the Israeli Municipality imposed a fine of NIS 70,000 on him and he is still paying it, however this does not nullify the decision to demolish.
At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 02 June 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers and worker moved into al-Khan area in the south-eastern side of al-Laban al-Sharqiyia village. IOF along with the workers dismantled 4 barracks, 52 solar cells, 12 tables, 5 tons of barley, and 3 tons of feed belonging to ‘Abed al-Baset Tayseer Mostafa Nobani, under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
On Tuesday, 02 June 2020, Na’iem Salah Farrah implemented the Israeli Municipality order and self-demolished a part of his house in Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Farrah said that he was forced to self-demolish a part of his house, pointing out that he attempted several times to license it by the Israeli Municipality, but in vain. Farrah clarified that it was the 3rd time that Israeli Municipality staff demolished his house, saying that: ” I built a house 20 years ago, all the neighborhood’s residents and I submitted applications to obtain licenses for our houses and we paid heavy fines for the Israeli municipality. Nineteen years later, the municipality staff came and demolished my house and its rubbles still remain in the area. I lost my apartment that sheltered my family comprising of 11 members.” He added: ” when my son decided to get married, I built an additional room for him, but yesterday (Monday) the municipality staff came, hanged a demolition order on the room and gave me two days to self-demolish it or I will pay the demolition costs for the municipality staff.”
At approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 02 June 2020, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished Ahmed Abu Diab’s house in Karm al-Shaiekh neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Member of the Silwan Lands Defense Committee, Khaled Abu Tayeh, said that the Israeli municipality staff accompanied with police officers moved into Karm al-Shaiekh neighborhood in Silwan village and surrounded the area. They then vacated Ahmed Abu Diab’s house contents to demolish it. Abu Tayeh clarified that Diab’s house was built 8 years ago aknd he attempted to license it several times and managed to freeze demolition orders issued against his house several time. The latest of these attempts was on 05 May 2020, as he managed to stop a demolition order and tried to obtain another extension, but on Thursday evening, he was shocked when Israeli municipality staff raided his house and demolished it. Abu Tayeh pointed out that the house sheltered 7 persons, including 5 children, and they became homeless. Abu Tayeh emphasized that Israeli authorities recently escalated demolition operations and forced Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem to self-demolish their houses, in an attempt to displace them and implement settlement plans. It should be noted that Israeli municipality ordered 11 Jerusalemites families in al-Mukaber Mount area and Silwan village to self-demolish their houses, so the latter were forced to implement the demolition order to avoid paying demolition costs for the municipality staff.
On Tuesday, Israeli bulldozers, under the IOF protection, built a road between Palestinians lands in Taqou’a village, east of Bethlehem, under the pretext that this road will be used for military purposes. As a result, Palestinians’ properties and dozens of trees sustained material damage. Taqou’a village residents emphasized that the building of this road comes in the context of the ongoing settlement plan aims at expanding the settlement’s borders, claiming that it was for military purposes.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 03 June 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Dir Hajlah residential compound in eastern Jericho. The Israeli military construction vehicles demolished 6 residential barracks built of tin plates and iron pipes; each one built on an area of 30 square meters. IOF brought workers to dismantle 3 water tanks, 2 fridges, 4 air conditioners, panels and electric wires, and confiscated them under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C. It should be noted that IOF distributed the eviction orders on 21 February 2020 and moved into Hajlah residential compound to conduct the demolition without a prior warning.The demolished facilities, property of Ibrahim Salem Abu Dahouk and his sons, were as follows:1. Ibrahim Salem Saleh Abu Dahouk: 2 barracks sheltering 6 members, including a child and his 2 wives, were demolished 2. Naser Ibrahim Abu Dahouk: a barrack sheltering 5 children and his wife, was demolished 3. Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Dahouk, a barrack sheltering a child and his wife, was demolished 4. Mohamed Yousef Abu Dahouk, a barrack sheltering 2 children and his wife, was demolished 5. Nasrah Naser Abu Dahouk, a barrack sheltering was demolished
At approximately 08:30 on Wednesday, 03 June 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-Markaz, al-Fakhit and al-Mofaqarah villages located in al-Masafer area, which is classified by the Israeli occupation authorities as a buffer zone under the pretext of being a “Firing Zone 918”, as per the Israel Ministry of Defense. IOF were deployed between Palestinians’ houses while military construction vehicles demolished 4 residential rooms, 4 residential tents and 2 livestock barns.The demolition was as follows:affected person/Facility/Construction Materials/Area/Family members1. Sameer Moahmed Ragheb Hoshieh/residential room/Sheds and iron angles/30 s.q/ 4 2. Sameer Moahmed Ragheb Hoshieh/Livestock barn/Sheds, stones and iron pipes/100 s.q/4 3. Belal Mohamed Ragheb Hoshieh/residential room/Bricks and tin plates/ 30 s.q/ 11 4. Mo’ath Mohamed Ragheb Hoshieh/residential room/Bricks and tin plates/ 30 s.q/5 5. Mo’ath Mohamed Ragheb Hoshieh/Livestock barn/Stones, sheds and iron angles/100 s.q/5 6. ‘Anan Mohamed Hoshieh/residential room/Bricks and tin plates/ 30 s.q/ 3 7. ‘Emad Mohamed Hoshieh/residential tent/sheds and iron angles/ 30 s.q/ 10 8. Khadijah Ahmed ‘Abed Rabu/residential room/ Bricks and tin plates/30 s.q/ 1 9. Ahmed Mahmoud Hamamdah/residential tent/sheds and iron angles 30 s.q/ 2 10. Jameel Mahmoud A’mar/residential tent/sheds and iron angles 30 s.q/ 2
b. Israeli Settler Violence
At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 30 May 2020, Israeli settlers, from ” Beit Romano” settlement outpost, which is established in central Hebron, threw rubbish at Palestinians while walking on the street.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 01 June 2020, 2 Israeli settlers, from “Sosiya” settlement, which is established on Palestinians confiscated lands in southern Yatta, attacked Mahmoud Jehad Ibrahim Abu Subiha (20), from Minizel village, while present in his land. Abu Subiha was beaten at gunpoint and the settlers attempted to run-over him through their vehicle. The Israeli police arrived at the area and arrested Abu Subiha, taking him to a police station in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron. Abu Subiha was bailed out NIS 500 until holding the court hearing on 02 November 2020.
On Tuesday, 02 June 2020, Israeli settlers, under IOF protection, expelled Palestinian farmers from their lands in Kisan village, east of Bethlehem. Ahmed Ghazal, the village council’s deputy head, said that Israeli settlers, from “ Eli Hanhail ” and ” Maale Amos ” settlement, expelled Palestinians farmers from their lands while plowing them, under the pretext that they should obtain a permit to enter their lands. Ghazal pointed out that farmers can no longer enter their lands amidst the settlers’ threats. It should be noted that Kisan village is recently exposed to IOF and settlers’ attacks; the latest of which was: opening fire at a checkpoint belonging to the Palestinian security services and stopping construction works on a street leading to al-Rashida village and confiscating all equipment.
The latest riots and looting in the United States of America were triggered by the cold-blooded killing of the US citizen George Floyd. The entire planet knows the sad story of Floyd no need to mention in it here.
But this story is only the tip of the iceberg. For those who think that Floyd’s killing is the real reason that made streets of different US states and regions flood with protestors and rioters, you are mistaken. Underneath the tip of the iceberg is what has been accumulating for long years.
If you know the US well, you must know by now that there is no universal healthcare, there are starvation wages, there exists mass incarceration, the US has a long history of police brutality, there is a lack of opportunities, racist politicians are everywhere, a racist justice system exists, there are no reparations and there is no access to affordable education.
With the coming of Covid-19 and the state of chaos across the country, and the sad crime of killing Floyd, it seems that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Thanks to alternative and social media networks, nothing is hidden; information flows in specs of a second through fiber optic technology to reach millions across the world.
News activist and analyst Sam G. from the city of Michigan told al-Ahed news that “Information is not monopolistic anymore. People across the world have become news junkies contributing to the multiplicity of informative voices as well as provide information on first-hand experience and what is happening in each country.”
Sam told al-Ahed “Corona, the pandemic which probably should be thanked at a certain point, revealed the spirit of each country, that is, those who are interested in giving more importance to the economy, as is the case of the United States, while other countries such as Iran carried out a coronavirus control policy where the health of its people was given more importance despite being financially sanctioned by the United States where its people are suffering from the individualistic policies of their government.
“The difference is clear, economy versus health, money versus life and here are the countries that suffer the most that are setting the example.”
The activist noted “The United States has loads of internal crises that it needs to overcome. The political crisis has extended to reach US President Donald Trump; his own officials who can no longer support his statements and poor decisions.”
“We are talking about a government that is racist towards its people. It is a country that is sinking in problems and complex issues and has a government that is sort of living in a state of denial. The US suffers an economic crisis where unconventional oil companies declared bankruptcy and the state had to go out to subsidize them while people continue to die for not being able to access the health system that is private and segregating.”
This, according to Sam, “leads to an unprecedented social crisis that proves once again that the Trump administration has no intention of improving its own country.”
According to Sam, this is only the beginning of change in the US as well as the world and its order. The activist thinks that people are not willing to retreat or stop protesting until they see the arrest of all officers involved in the killing of Floyd and see action in terms of protecting the rights of African Americans at least.
In many parts of the world, the death of yet another black man at the hands of the police in the United States set off mass protests against police brutality. For many activists and community organizers, Floyd’s death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer was a blunt reminder of Chicago’s racial divide and history of police brutality against African Americans.
Between 2013 and 2019, police in the United States killed 7,666 people, according to data compiled by Mapping Police Violence, a research and advocacy group. In 2019 alone, more than 1,000 people were killed by police, according to Mapping Police Violence, a research group.
Several states have called in National Guard troops to help quell the protests, some of which have turned violent. Cities nationwide have also implemented curfews, but protesters appear undeterred.
The US has even failed in ensuring the right of citizens to protest, which is the simplest form of freedom of expression and human rights in the so-called land of democracies and freedoms. According to the human rights group Amnesty International, police tactics used so far can trigger escalating violence. “Equipping officers in a manner more appropriate for a battlefield may put them in the mindset that confrontation and conflict are inevitable,” read the statement, adding that police “should demilitarize their approach and engage in dialogue with protest organizers”.
As the Coronavirus turns into a pandemic that threatens the entire world, most of world governments decided to reduce the risks facing prisoners who, most of the times, are placed in huge numbers inside small cells, making it prone for the virus’ growth. This was the reason why most governmental authorities furloughed their prisoners until the threat is gone, although many prisoners pose a danger to their societies.
In Bahrain, however, despite the sharp spike in the number of infections, reaching more recently 13,733 confirmed cases according to the World Health Organization [WHO], the Bahraini regime’s authorities still refuse to let its prisoners out, even temporarily.
In addition to non-abiding by the recommended measures, fears for the health conditions of the opinion prisoners increase, especially after the news circulating that the Bahraini Interior Ministry suspended a group of police officers on suspicions that they are infected with the Coronavirus. This is yet another clear violation of the minimum rights detainees must have.
On the human rights and legal levels, the Universal Declaration for Human Rights emphasizes the right to live in “suitable health conditions for all”. Additionally, the International Pact for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provides that prisoners have the right to the maximum reachable level of physical and mental health. Relatively, the minimum standard rules for treating detainees guarantee providing them with healthcare.
Indeed, the negligence to provide detainees in Bahraini prisons with the required healthcare is not the first of its kind. It is a permanent and continued suffering. In the Drydock Prison, there are dozens of prisoners with scabies. Instead of assuming responsibility to provide the required treatment, the prison’s administration forces their families to do this, plus demanding unavailable brands of the required medication.
Based on this, the Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights raised a message to the international community to demand rapid action to pressure the Bahraini government for providing the required medical care for its prisoners, as well as to abide by the WHO’s recommendations to curb the spread of the virus inside the prisons.
All human rights organizations and activists are invited to take part in the ongoing campaign to #FreeBahrainPrisoners.
Just as crises can provide a test of anyone’s character, they do so especially with presidents. We stand burdened with watching a president fail his test, in cataclysmic fashion, and with the nation suffering the consequences.
Until three brief months ago, [US] President [Donald] Trump never faced a serious crisis, at least one not of his own making. But now he has faced two, and is failing two, in short order: the covid-19 pandemic, with its concomitant economic devastation; and now social unrest, and rioting, stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Lacking in humanity, Trump has had no idea how to handle either one. He has responded to the police-brutality protests only by making matters worse. Faced with circumstances warranting calls for calm and restraint, he answered with almost sadistic invitations for more violence, fulminating about “THUGS” and extrajudicially “shooting” looters, issuing threats about “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons,” and celebrating “Domination” and “Overwhelming force.”
Tweeting about “LAW AND ORDER!” and “Anarchists,” and ignoring the distinction between peaceful, aggrieved citizens and the relatively few lawbreakers among them, Trump castigated governors in a phone call as “weak,” effectively upbraiding them for not spraying more fuel on the fire. And then, after he was wounded by mockery about having been hustled to a White House bunker as protests mounted, his administration used chemicals and projectile munitions to disperse peaceful demonstrators so that this morally deficient could awkwardly pose with a borrowed Bible as a stalwart defender of public order and Christian values in front of a Lafayette Square church.
And all with little more than token acknowledgment of the tragedy that triggered it all, and of the righteous outrage that has caused the streets to fill. Little more than a few robotically recited lines tucked into a speech at NASA about a rocket launch, and a speech at the White House that prefaced his parade to the church. He made a sympathy phone call to Floyd’s family, but the dead man’s brother, Philonise, said it went by so quickly that he was barely given a chance to speak.
So, too, with covid-19: The pandemic response sorely needed a leader with competence and intellectual understanding, guided by a basic humanity. Instead, Trump began with denials, lies, delusions — cases going down to zero, and the deadly pathogen would miraculously disappear. He veered from extreme to extreme: from covid-19 as a flu-like problem to a national emergency, from calls for precautions to demands for “liberation” from them, with miracle cures sprinkled about along the way.
Erratic press briefings featured Trump blathering and preening, and treating government experts cavalierly, as if he were on a phone call with Philonise Floyd. The briefings mercifully ended after Trump apparently realized they did him political harm.
And all without appreciation by the president of the human toll exacted not only by the virus itself, but also from his own inattentiveness to it. On Memorial Day weekend, as the death count approached 100,000, he indulged himself with two days of golf. When asked during a March virus briefing a simple question that any humane politician could have knocked out of the park — “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now and are scared?” — he responded not to the American people, but with an angry attack on the journalist: “I’d say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I’d say.”
So much of Trump’s inaptness and ineptness in these and other matters stem from his exceptional narcissism, and the empathic deficit that attends it. Few who have considered it would today doubt, as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) so perceptively put it in 2016, that Trump was “a narcissist at a level I don’t think this country has ever seen.”
But it’s more than just narcissism that drives this failing, flailing president. However difficult they can be, even extreme narcissists can have consciences. They don’t necessarily cast aside behavioral standards or laws, or lie ceaselessly with reckless abandon. Trump’s behavior is conscienceless, showing utter disregard for the safety of others, consistent irresponsibility, callousness, cynicism and disrespect of other human beings. Contempt for truth and honesty, and for norms, rules and laws. A complete inability to feel remorse, or guilt. As a New Yorker profile of Trump put it nearly a quarter-century ago, Trump lives “an existence unmolested by the rumbling of a soul.” That’s Donald Trump’s problem yesterday, today and tomorrow.
It’s our problem, too, for now: We remain governed by a soulless man with a broken mind. The damage will continue, and it won’t stop until voters end it. Come November, it will be up to the eligible human population of this country to look to their souls, their consciences, their humanity — and to cast their votes for one of their own.
انهماك الأميركيين بمعالجة اضطراباتهم الداخلية العنصرية ومجابهة جائحة الكورونا والتراجع الاقتصادي وصراعهم الجيوبوليتيكي مع الصين، لم يمنع ثلاث دول خليجية من مواصلة تنفيذ أوامر أميركية وتركية تلقتها في أوقات سابقة لنسف وحدة كل من العراق وسورية واليمن وليبيا ولبنان.
هذه الدول أصبحت معروفة وهي السعودية والإمارات وقطر، لكنها لا تشكل فريقاً واحداً بل محورين متصارعين الى حدود الاحتراب في الخليج ويلتقيان بدعم كل اصناف الإرهاب في العالمين العربي والاسلامي.
للإشارة فإن انتماء هذه البلدان للنفوذ الأميركي ليس هو المشكلة. فهذه مسألة بدأت منذ نهاية الحرب العالمية الثانية في 1945 وتسلم الأميركيون منذ ذلك الوقت حماية الخليج مقابل هيمنتهم على النفط.
المشكلة في أن هذه البلدان الخليجية اعتادت على تنفيذ السياسات الأميركية من دون أي استفسار او استعلام عن الأسباب، حتى انها لا تأبه إذا انسجم هذا الدعم مع مصالحها.
لذلك فما يثير العجب هو استمرار الإفراط في الأدوار الخليجية في مرحلة لا أحد يعرف فيها إذا كان بوسع الأميركيين الاستمرار بالسيطرة الأحادية على العالم ام لا، ومن هم الأعضاء الجدد في النظام العالمي الجديد؟ وهل تناسبهم هذه السياسات الخليجيّة؟
ليبيا مثلاً هي واحدة من الدول التي يصيبها تورطٌ خليجي كبير ينقسم الى فريق سعودي إماراتي يدعم الجنرال حفتر بالسلاح والتمويل، مقابل فريق قطري يمول التورط التركي في دعم دولة ليبيا في طرابلس التي يقودها السراج المنافس لحفتر.
التمويل القطري هنا يشمل نقل عشرات آلاف الإرهابيين السوريين من احزاب الاخوان المسلمين والتركستاني والنصرة، الى ليبيا ودعم دولة السراج بكل انواع التمويل وذلك لخدمة تركيا التي تلعب في عصر رئيسها اردوغان دوراً استعمارياً في العالم العربي.
مَن هو المستفيد من تقسيم ليبيا؟ الأميركيون والأتراك والروس والأوروبيون مقابل خاسر واحد كبير هم العرب والليبيون، فماذا تستفيد السعودية والإمارات وقطر من أمر كهذا؟
كذلك الأمر بالنسبة لسورية حيث تدعم السعودية والامارات تمويل وتسليح عشائر عربية متحالفة مع الأكراد العاملين ضمن المشروع الأميركي. والعمل هنا جار لتأسيس دولة لقوات قسد الكردية تفتعل حلفاً وهمياً مع عشائر عربية لتغطي به استحداث دولة كردية مستقلة تصبح قاعدة للأميركيين.
ومرة ثانية نسأل من المستفيد من تجزئة سورية؟ طبعاً هم الأميركيون جيوبوليتيكياً و»إسرائيل» التي تستفيد من استنفاد القوة السورية استراتيجياً.
اما قطر فتدعم الاستعمار التركي في احتلاله للشمال الغربي السوري وتموله وتدعمه بالسلاح والتغطية، ويشمل دعمها منظمات حراس الدين واللواء التركستاني وهيئة تحرير الشام وكامل المنظمات المتفرّعة من الإخوان المسلمين.
وإذا كانت هذه الدول الخليجية الثلاث تتناقض في هوية الذين تدعمهم، لكنها تعرف انهم ينتمون بشكل كامل بالنهاية الى المحور الأميركي.
ماذا عن اليمن؟ لم يحدث عدوان يمني على السعودية منذ تأسيس البلدين، لكن السعودية تواصل سيطرتها عليه بأساليب مختلفة سياسية وعسكرية وتعتبرها حديثة خلفية لها.
لقد هاجم حلف عربي مزعوم مركب من السعودية والإمارات بتأييد مصري أردني سوداني وتغطية أميركية بريطانية اسرائيلية، اليمن منذ ستّ سنوات بقوات ضخمة، لم تتمكن من تحقيق أهدافها المتعلقة بالقضاء على أنصار الله في المناطق الشمالية والغربية والوسطى.
لكنها نجحت في تقسيم ميداني لليمن بين حوثيين في الشمال حتى أعالي صعدة عند الحدود مع السعودية وجنوبيين في الجنوب بين عمان بحر العرب والوسط.
ونجحت أيضاً في تقسيم الجنوب الى مناطق ساحلية مؤيدة للمجلس الانتقالي الموالي لدولة الإمارات وحضرموت وتامت والجوف الموالية لقوات هادي الملتزم السياسة السعودية.
وكل هذه الاطراف السعودية الإماراتية تندرج في اطار المشروع الأميركي، فلماذا يريد الأميركيون وآلياتهم الخليجية تقسيم اليمن؟ لتأمين حريات واسعة للهيمنة الأميركية على بحر عدن وباب المندب وبحر عدن المحيط الهندي وتستفيد السعودية بمجاورة يمن مبعثر وضعيف يبقى طويلاً حديقة خلفية لها، اما الامارات فحلمها تأسيس مشاريع سياحية واقتصادية في جزر اليمن وسواحله.
كذلك فإن «اسرائيل» منتفعة من تجزئة اليمن لان خط مرورها من ايلات الى البحر الاحمر والخليج يصبح اكثر اماناً بالإضافة الى سلامة الخط الذي يربطها بقناة السويس من طريق صديقها السيسي وورثة أنور السادات وشركاه اللاحقين من الاخوان.
ماذا عن العراق؟ تبذل السعودية والامارات وقطر جهوداً تمويلية جبارة لتقسيمه وفق خطة بريمر القديمة الى ثلاث دول شيعية وسنية وكردية مع نفوذ على شكل احتلال تركي في الشمال مموّل بالكامل من دولة قطر.
لكن السعودية والإمارات تمولان جماعات الحلبوسي في الوسط ومعظم التيارات الإرهابية فيه والنجيفي وعشائر عربية لا يهمها إلا تلقي المكرمات والأموال.
وتموّلان أيضاً إقليم كردستان الذي يمتلك إدارة خاصة لكن السعودية والإمارات حرصتا على تمويل جيش كامل مستقل لكردستان البرازاني لدفعه نحو شعور بفائض قوة يدفع هذا الإقليم نحو الانفصال، وبذلك يصبح العراق ثلاث دول وربما أكثر. والمستفيد كالعادة أميركا الجيوبوليتيكية وتركيا الجارة والسعودية التي تعمل منذ ستة عقود على إضعاف أرض السواد.
بذلك يتضح أن ذهاب الأميركيين نحو مزيد من التراجع يصيب هذه المشاريع الخليجية بتدمير العالم العربي بالخسارة واليتم، وعندها لن تستطيع التبرؤ منها، ولن يقبل المتضرّرون إلا بإسقاط هذه العائلات الحاكمة من آل زايد وسعود وخليفة بشكل نهائي إنقاذاً للعالم العربي من مفاسدهم التاريخيّة.
For most people, the outbreak of a new severe respiratory disease in China did not ring alarm bells – at least not ones commensurate with the global catastrophe we are now facing. Unlike those specialists who deal with epidemic diseases, or companies and institutes who study them and research drugs and vaccines, we were not familiar with the intricacies of infection and transmission, antibodies and immunity, nor the contingency plans governments had to deal with such outbreaks.
Being a new strain of Coronavirus not previously “tested” on human populations, even those at the Wuhan Institute of Virology who were familiar with these sorts of viruses had much to learn from observing the details of peoples’ symptoms, susceptibility and infectivity, and these early observations were invaluable in guiding other countries’ responses, or should have been.
They were also helpful in enabling us to make judgements on the risk posed by the new disease when it reached our shores – as it inevitably would. Perhaps the simplest and most important feature of this respiratory infection was that it was rarely fatal amongst healthy people under 70, with the majority of deaths – from acute pneumonia – amongst the “old and sick”. It was observed that this age-profile of the virus was very similar to the normal age profile of deaths in the community.
Along with these simple epidemiological observations, there was a focus on treatments that might ameliorate or even cure the infection, and early trials of likely drugs that had been found useful in treating related viral diseases. Several such trials were conducted in China in January and identified a few promising candidates, including Remdesevir and Chloroquine.
When the disease spread to Italy and then to France in February, the world’s most renowned expert on communicable diseases – Professor Didier Raoult – followed up on the Chinese studies with one of his own at his institute in Marseilles. In his career working with various exotic diseases like Ebola in Africa, he already had significant experience with the Malaria drug Hydroxychloroquine, which had been demonstrated effective against Dengue and other dangerous virus diseases.
Raoult’s first study, which trialled Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with and without the antibiotic Azithromycin found that:
Despite its small sample size our survey shows that hydroxychloroquine treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin.
Prof Raoult considered the results sufficiently significant to publish immediately, and advocated for the use of HCQ in new cases of COVID-19 infection – an important point, as it is the effect of HCQ on reducing viral load in the early stages of infection which is most vital. As has been demonstrated by the studies of the drug’s use in hospitalised patients, its use once the infection reaches the lungs may even be dangerous.
From the time when I became aware of Didier Raoult’s research, following a revealing article from Pepe Escobar about the inside workings of the French Health Ministry, I have struggled to understand why there appears to be such a determined campaign against both Prof Raoult and against the use of HCQ to treat CV19 patients. It has been repeatedly noted that the drug has been used for sixty years by millions of people and has few and rare side effects which are well known, while evidence continues to mount for its efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“What’s not to like?” – as they say, and as Donald Trump famously declared back in April. Notably he has now put his money (not much as HCQ is very cheap) where his ample mouth is by taking HCQ as a prophylactic following a case of CV19 in the White House. Contrary to the way it has been portrayed in the media, Trump was hardly alone in advocating for HCQ and making it available.
President Macron visited Prof Raoult’s institute in early April at the same time as French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi made a commitment to supply free millions of doses of the drug globally, despite its apparently conflicting interests in vaccine development and production. Macron’s poorly publicised and ambiguous support for Raoult has recently become rather confusing – but more on that later.
Further reinforcing scepticism about the drug is support and advocacy for Hydroxychloroquine from other notable identities – President Bolsonaro of Brazil and Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer, but saner voices have also spoken out. This contribution from a US senator Ron Johnson, which followed after FDA restrictions on HCQ is worth quoting:
Restricting use to hospitalized patients means loss of the critical early window of opportunity to: (1) prevent the virus attaching to host cells, (2) reduce viral replication that prolongs time of infectivity and spread, (3) reduce the number of hospitalizations and need for intubation and mechanical ventilators, and (4) reduce risk of multi-organ damage and death or permanent lung impairment after recovery.
Echoing Trump’s position on the urgent need to act he added that:
We can’t wait months for a completed RCT (randomised controlled trial) or a vaccine. People are dying every day. Staggering numbers of people have lost jobs, incomes, and ability to live life normally, all of which lead to loss of life that could quickly exceed losses from the virus.
Senator Johnson said this on April 10th. What has happened since is hard to ascertain and hard to comprehend, with two different narratives and realities operating in parallel. In the Western media bubble, which envelopes its citizens in an impermeable and invisible shield, scientific and health advisors endlessly repeat the mantra that HCQ is a dangerous drug that can cause heart attacks, citing trials that show it has no benefit in treating COVID-19 patients in hospitals. Their message is that we must wait for a vaccine, maintaining restrictive social habits to reduce any chance of catching the infection. That the novel Coronavirus actually causes only a minor infection – or even an unnoticed one – in the vast majority of people, is never stressed or even noted.
In the parallel world –which with the poor majority world apparently includes many Western countries below the radar, HCQ or Chloroquine is being widely used and with significant effects on controlling the severity of disease and its spread, and reducing the pressure on limited hospital services. This parallel world exists alongside its first-world partner in countries like India and Nigeria, where the poor majority cannot afford to “stay at home”, amusing themselves in Zoom meetings with fellow shack-dwellers and ordering in scavenged take-aways their ex-employers have discarded.
The suggestion, implicit in WHO advice and that of Western government scientists, that they should just “hold on” until a vaccine arrives – in six or twelve months, must be regarded with the utmost disbelief and disdain. They have no choice but to continue their lives regardless, putting the risk of falling sick with CV19 alongside mostly far greater threats from disease and disaster. It has already been noticed that the death toll in poorer countries – in Africa particularly – is far lower than in rich ones, likely due in large part to the low average age of populations.
For them there is the prospect that the new disease will spread through the population and bring “herd immunity” without taking many lives. For those of us who are now trapped in a dystopian nightmare world we never chose, at the beck and call of pharmaceutical and security companies linked to governments, this is an enviable prospect.
Three months ago it seemed like an unlikely conspiracy theory – that we could be manipulated into a prison from which the only escape would be vaccination and electronic surveillance. But it is rapidly becoming clear not just that this has happened but that it was the plan, and that a carefully orchestrated series of actions has achieved the desired goal. Piers Robinson has researched the network of groups and individuals who have provided advice to the UK government’s SAGE committee on how to keep citizens in line. Noteworthy are the recommendations from the “SPI-B” group on behavioural techniques. They identify:
“options for increasing adherence to social distancing measures,” which include persuasion, incentivisation and coercion. In the section on persuasion it states that “the perceived level of personal threat needs to be increased among those who are complacent, using hard-hitting emotional messaging.” The document also mentions “using media to increase sense of personal threat.”
The involvement of key figures from Government intelligence agencies and covert disinformation warfare groups like the IfS and Brigade 77 must ring alarm bells to anyone concerned to know whose interests are being favoured by these unprecedented and draconian restrictions on civil liberties.
Given the oddly similar approaches to the Coronavirus threat followed by so many countries, and despite their vastly different circumstances, it appears that the UK model of media-mediated control is being followed elsewhere. Indeed the evidence for such covert activity is considerable here in Australia, based merely on this similarity, because the actual threat from CV19 – which has never been great – is now almost negligible.
So effective has the “hard-hitting emotional messaging” been that many Australians are now so afraid of catching and dying from COVID-19 that they are content to endure huge restrictions on their freedoms and activities until a vaccine arrives sometime next year. Trying to persuade them there is no danger of catching it now, or that there was no real danger from catching it, is nye impossible.
But this has now become the crux of the matter. And it is hard to avoid the conclusion that those in power are determined to destroy anything that stands in the way of their plans for global vaccination, surveillance and control, and the huge fortunes to be made by their favoured commercial partners and investors.
How else to explain this? – that the WHO just cancelled support for research around the world into Hydroxychloroquine on the basis of a completely fabricated “research study” published in the Lancet on May 22nd. That the Guardian now claims that they exposed the flaws in the research, with the WHO cancelling its ban, only adds further suspicion to the affair – the research was already exposed as scientifically and ethically impossible, while the group “Surgisphere” which supposedly collected data from 96,000 patients at 671 hospitals in 6 countries has NO verifiable credentials.
The cancellation and rescinding of WHO’s support for research into HCQ is, like the trials it sponsored, a complete sham. Not only is HCQ, with or without Azithromycin, already well proven to be useful or even critical in controlling the severity of the disease and its spread, but the trials now being set up in the UK and Australia and around the world are designed to fail. This “poor design” is so obvious in the Australian trial that it is simply astonishing that it was approved, if the intent was to test HCQ’s efficacy as stated:
“COVID SHIELD is gold standard in its design as a multi-centre, randomised, double-blind study,” said Professor Pellegrini (of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute).
This may be true, as the trial will be on 2000 volunteer health care workers, half of whom will take Hydroxychloroquine and half a placebo – without knowing which, and for four months, the object being to see if the drug has a protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
But because there are only a few cases of active CV19 infection in hospital, and few more likely, most of the volunteers are unlikely to be exposed to the virus. Not only that – because the trial is double blind, all volunteers will be obliged to behave as if they have no protection and so must wear standard protective equipment for the four month period.
At the end of the “trial”, when half of these volunteers will have taken “the possibly dangerous” HCQ every day for four months for no reason, the Institute will be able to declare that there was no difference between HCQ and a placebo, though the result will not be statistically significant because of the low number of infections. (zero presumably) Then like the Emperor’s new clothes, the “results” will be paraded around as the last word on this controversial drug.
In the meantime we might consider the recent advice of Harvey Risch in the American Journal of Epidemiology that the drug should be used immediately, in combination with Azithromycin, on Outpatients. Or the last word from Professor Raoult, spoken over two months ago following French restrictions on HCQ use to seriously ill patients in hospital:
“When damage to the lungs is too important, and patients arrive for reanimation, they practically do not harbor viruses in their bodies any more. It’s too late to treat them with chloroquine. Are these the only cases – the very serious cases – that will be treated with chloroquine under the new directive by [French Health Minister] Veran?” If so, he added ironically, “then they will be able to say with scientific certainty that chloroquine does not work.”
Afterword:
Professor Raoult has just approached French TV network BFM to record this long and rather fractious interview with two women challenging his research and opinions. For those with reasonable French understanding it is quite fascinating in the insight into the politics of health and research in France.
Just as crises can provide a test of anyone’s character, they do so especially with presidents. We stand burdened with watching a president fail his test, in cataclysmic fashion, and with the nation suffering the consequences.
Until three brief months ago, [US] President [Donald] Trump never faced a serious crisis, at least one not of his own making. But now he has faced two, and is failing two, in short order: the covid-19 pandemic, with its concomitant economic devastation; and now social unrest, and rioting, stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Lacking in humanity, Trump has had no idea how to handle either one. He has responded to the police-brutality protests only by making matters worse. Faced with circumstances warranting calls for calm and restraint, he answered with almost sadistic invitations for more violence, fulminating about “THUGS” and extrajudicially “shooting” looters, issuing threats about “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons,” and celebrating “Domination” and “Overwhelming force.”
Tweeting about “LAW AND ORDER!” and “Anarchists,” and ignoring the distinction between peaceful, aggrieved citizens and the relatively few lawbreakers among them, Trump castigated governors in a phone call as “weak,” effectively upbraiding them for not spraying more fuel on the fire. And then, after he was wounded by mockery about having been hustled to a White House bunker as protests mounted, his administration used chemicals and projectile munitions to disperse peaceful demonstrators so that this morally deficient could awkwardly pose with a borrowed Bible as a stalwart defender of public order and Christian values in front of a Lafayette Square church.
And all with little more than token acknowledgment of the tragedy that triggered it all, and of the righteous outrage that has caused the streets to fill. Little more than a few robotically recited lines tucked into a speech at NASA about a rocket launch, and a speech at the White House that prefaced his parade to the church. He made a sympathy phone call to Floyd’s family, but the dead man’s brother, Philonise, said it went by so quickly that he was barely given a chance to speak.
So, too, with covid-19: The pandemic response sorely needed a leader with competence and intellectual understanding, guided by a basic humanity. Instead, Trump began with denials, lies, delusions — cases going down to zero, and the deadly pathogen would miraculously disappear. He veered from extreme to extreme: from covid-19 as a flu-like problem to a national emergency, from calls for precautions to demands for “liberation” from them, with miracle cures sprinkled about along the way.
Erratic press briefings featured Trump blathering and preening, and treating government experts cavalierly, as if he were on a phone call with Philonise Floyd. The briefings mercifully ended after Trump apparently realized they did him political harm.
And all without appreciation by the president of the human toll exacted not only by the virus itself, but also from his own inattentiveness to it. On Memorial Day weekend, as the death count approached 100,000, he indulged himself with two days of golf. When asked during a March virus briefing a simple question that any humane politician could have knocked out of the park — “What do you say to Americans who are watching you right now and are scared?” — he responded not to the American people, but with an angry attack on the journalist: “I’d say that you’re a terrible reporter, that’s what I’d say.”
So much of Trump’s inaptness and ineptness in these and other matters stem from his exceptional narcissism, and the empathic deficit that attends it. Few who have considered it would today doubt, as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) so perceptively put it in 2016, that Trump was “a narcissist at a level I don’t think this country has ever seen.”
But it’s more than just narcissism that drives this failing, flailing president. However difficult they can be, even extreme narcissists can have consciences. They don’t necessarily cast aside behavioral standards or laws, or lie ceaselessly with reckless abandon. Trump’s behavior is conscienceless, showing utter disregard for the safety of others, consistent irresponsibility, callousness, cynicism and disrespect of other human beings. Contempt for truth and honesty, and for norms, rules and laws. A complete inability to feel remorse, or guilt. As a New Yorker profile of Trump put it nearly a quarter-century ago, Trump lives “an existence unmolested by the rumbling of a soul.” That’s Donald Trump’s problem yesterday, today and tomorrow.
It’s our problem, too, for now: We remain governed by a soulless man with a broken mind. The damage will continue, and it won’t stop until voters end it. Come November, it will be up to the eligible human population of this country to look to their souls, their consciences, their humanity — and to cast their votes for one of their own.
أثناء دارسته في الجامعة المصرية، تعرّف رمضان عبد الله شلح على الشهيد فتحي الشقاقي، اقترح شلح على صديقه الشقاقي، تشكيل تنظيم.. سيرة حياة رمضان عبدالله شلّح في سطور.
ولد الأمين العام السابق لحركة الجهاد الإسلامي في فلسطين، رمضان عبد الله شلح، في حي الشجاعية في غزة، بتاريخ 1 كانون الثاني/يناير عام 1958.
نشأ في قطاع غزة، ودرس فيه جميع المراحل التعليمية حتى حصّل الشهادة الثانوية، قبل أن يسافر إلى مصر لدراسة الاقتصاد في جامعة “الزقازيق”، ويحصّل شهادة البكالوريوس في علم الاقتصاد عام 1981.
وأثناء دارسته في الجامعة المصرية، تعرّف على الشهيد فتحي الشقاقي. وفي العام 1978، اقترح شلح على صديقه الشقاقي، تشكيل تنظيم، فأخبره الشقاقي أنه ينتمي لجماعة “الإخوان المسلمين”، ويترأس مجموعة صغيرة باسم “الطلائع الإسلامية”، لينضم شلح إلى هذه المجموعة، وتتأسس من نواتها حركة الجهاد الإسلامي.
بعد إنهاء دراسته الجامعية، عاد شلح إلى غزة، وعمل أستاذاً للاقتصاد في الجامعة الإسلامية، وعُرف حينها بخطبه الدعوية والجهادية، الأمر الذي دفع قوات الاحتلال إلى وضعه في الإقامة الجبرية، ومنعه من العمل في الجامعة.
وفي العام 1986، غادر شلح فلسطين إلى لندن، ليكمال دراسته العليا، وينال درجة الدكتوراة في الاقتصاد من جامعة “درم” عام 1990.
واصل شلح نشاطه في بريطانيا لفترة، ثم انتقل من هناك إلى الولايات المتحدة، حيث عمل كأستاذ لدراسات الشرق الأوسط في جامعة جنوبي فلوريدا، بين عامي 1993 و1995.
في عام 1995 جاء إلى سوريا راغباً في العودة إلى فلسطين، وبانتظار الانتهاء من أوراقه الخاصة بالعودة، التقى بصديقه الدكتور الشقاقي وعملا معاً لمدة 6 أشهر لوضع الخطط لتطوير العمل العسكري ضد الاحتلال، وفي ذلك العام اغتال الموساد الدكتور الشقاقي، وانتخبت الحركة رمضان عبد الله شلح أميناً عاماً لها.
وخلال الانتفاضة الفلسطينية الثانية التي اندلعت عام 2000، اتهمت “إسرائيل” شلح بالمسؤولية المباشرة عن عدد كبير من عمليات “الجهاد” ضد أهدافٍ إسرائيلية.
وأدرجته واشنطن على قائمة “الشخصيات الإرهابية” عام 2003، وفي نهاية عام 2017 أدرجه مكتب التحقيقات الفدرالي الأميركي (إف بي آي) على “قائمة المطلوبين”، فيما كان أعلن موقع “المكافآت من أجل العدالة” الأميركي عن مكافأة مقدارها 5 مليون دولارٍ، لتحديد مكان شلّح.
استمر شلح في مهامه، أميناً عاماً لحركة الجهاد الإسلامي، حتى أيلول/سبتمبر 2018، حيث جرى انتخاب زياد نخالة لتولي الأمانة العامة في “الجهاد”، بعد أن حال المرض دون استمرار شلح في موقعه.
وتوفي شلح مساء اليوم السبت، بعد معاناة مع المرض العضال، ونعته الفصائل الفلسطينية، مشيدةً بـ”جهاده الطويل والمشرّف”.
Protracted main street depression conditions have existed in the US since 2008 with no relief for ordinary Americans in prospect.
Before economic collapse this year, unemployment exceeded 20%, Labor Department numbers rigged to pretend otherwise.
The so-called U-3 BLS number omits working-age Americans without jobs who want them, including many longterm unemployed individuals not looking after months of failure to find employment.
Monthly BLS jobs report conceal what should be headline news, including that most US jobs created are poverty-wage, poor-or-no benefit temporary or part-time service industry ones.
Most households need two or more to survive. Living on the edge, they’re one or a few missed paydays from homelessness, hunger, despair and overall deprivation.
Record numbers of Americans are food insecure, the specter of hunger haunting the world’s richest country because its ruling class serves privileged interests exclusively at the expense of the public welfare.
It’s what the scourge of neoliberal harshness is all about, supported by both right wings of the one-party state.
It’s not a pretty picture. “America the beautiful” is a mirage in a nation where poverty is the leading growth industry — disturbing reality concealed by establishment media.
Michal Harrington explained the problem in 1962, things far worse today than what he described in his book titled “The Other America,” saying:
“In morality and in justice, every citizen should be committed to abolishing the other America, for it is intolerable that the richest nation in human history should allow such needless suffering.”
“But more than that, if we solve the problem of the other America, we will have learned how to solve the problems of all of America.”
Food insecurity, hunger, and unemployment haunted America at higher levels than at any time since the Great Depression before 2020 economic collapse began.
Now they’re off the charts with no near-or-longer-term plan for turning things around — just continued governance of, by, and for the privileged few alone at a time of a growing permanent underclass.
During the Great Depression, FDR explained that “one-third of (the US was) ill-housed, ill-clad (and) ill-nourished” — the problem far greater today than then.
It’s because unemployment is far greater now than in the 1930s, the highest in US history by far.
FDR’s “New Deal for the American people” was polar opposite today’s bipartisan conspiracy against public health and welfare.
He called “vast unemployment (of his time) the greatest menace to our social order,” calling for “social justice” that’s fast eroding today at a time when boosting it greatly is needed.
Friday’s jobs report concealed reality. Economist John Williams said BLS numbers are “not particularly credible.”
“Prior period downside revisions” weren’t explained, nor “revised methodologies and seasonal adjustments” that distorted reality.
Nearly 5 million unemployed Americans were counted as “employed, the third (consecutive) month of acknowledged misreporting.”
Last month’s reporting period was at a time of US lockdown nationwide.
Yet the BLS claimed 2.5 million new jobs were created — when millions of new weekly unemployment claims continue to be filed.
The report noted that hundreds of thousands more workers were permanently laid off because lost business isn’t coming back soon.
Hundreds of thousands of public workers continue to be let go, mostly at the state and local levels because of severe budget constraints, revenues falling way short of the ability to maintain public services at pre-economic crisis levels.
Through May into early June, data show the US economy contracting, far from expanding.
Key economic metrics contracted to record-low levels. Q II GDP is estimated to show around a 50% contraction, a number far exceeding anything during the Great Depression or any previous time in US history.
Based on how US unemployment was calculated pre-1990, Williams now puts it at 35%, over one-third of US workers without jobs.
Along with the vast majority of others underemployed, the US is a nation of paupers while its privileged class never had things better.
Notably the wealth of super-rich Americans is increasing during hard times while food banks are hard-pressed to feed millions of hungry Americans.
The USA is a nation in decline, a surging stock market concealing reality.
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) said nationwide “economic pain” continues, stressing it’ll “be longstanding without” considerable federal aid — that’s not forthcoming.
California, the state with the nation’s largest economy, teeters on bankruptcy, needing $54 billion in federal aid to provide basic services.
Many are being slashed, including for health, education, and other vital programs.
New York, Illinois and other US states are face similar hard choices.
Instead of federal aid to states in need and to stimulate economic growth and jobs creation, trillions of federal dollars went to Wall Street and other corporate America favorites.
Crumbs alone have gone to the unemployed, the impoverished underemployed, the “ill-housed, ill-clad, and ill-nourished.”
While most US states ended lockdowns, others likely to end them in short order, mass unemployment remains at a record high.
Over 40 million Americans employed in January were fired, laid off, or furloughed, record numbers over a short period.
Small and medium-sized businesses were most affected, the backbone of the nation.
Around half of lost jobs are permanent because countless numbers of shut down companies face bankruptcy.
The Wall Street Journal reported that 722 US firms filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May alone, a near-50% year-over-year increase, much more of the same ahead.
Many reopening won’t operate at previous levels, notably restaurants, hotels, airlines, shopping malls, retail stores, commercial real estate, enterprises related to tourism, and others relying on large gatherings like sports.
According to US bankruptcy attorney James Conlan, “we’re going to see an extraordinary number of large corporate bankruptcies, not just in the US but across the globe.”
The effects of unprecedented US economic collapse won’t magically turn around any time soon — especially with no federal economic stimulus and jobs creation programs planned.
Trump’s phony Friday claim about the US economy ready to take off like a “rocket ship” belies the dismal state of main street America — his regime and Congress doing nothing to turn things around.
What happens when millions of unemployed Americans can’t pay mortgage, car loans, or credit card bills.
Are mass evictions coming, numbers of homeless to increase exponentially, along with growing hunger?
The notion that Friday’s jobs report showed the beginning of economic recovery is belied by reality in US cities and towns nationwide.
Ongoing protests against institutionalized racism, inequality and injustice met by police violence reflect America’s dismal state.
It’s not about to change by the nation’s ruling class without sustained public activism in the streets for redress of longstanding grievances.
It’s the only way change ever comes. There’s no other way.
Power yields nothing without a demand. It never did and never will.
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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC] along with its allied nations agreed Saturday to extend a production cut of nearly 10 million barrels of oil a day through the end of July, hoping to boost energy prices hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Ministers of the cartel and outside nations like Russia met via video conference to adopt the measure, aimed at cutting out the excess production depressing prices as global aviation remains largely grounded due to the pandemic. It represents some 10 percent of the world’s overall supply.
However, danger still lurks for the market.
The decision came in a unanimous vote, UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei wrote on Twitter. He called it a “a courageous decision and a collective effort deserving praise from all participating producing countries.”
Crude oil prices have been gaining in recent days, in part on hopes OPEC would continue the cut. International benchmark Brent crude traded Saturday over $42 a barrel. Brent had crashed below $20 a barrel in April.
The oil market was already oversupplied when Russia and OPEC failed to agree on output cuts in early March. Analysts say Russia refused to back even a moderate cut because it would have only served to help US energy companies that were pumping at full capacity. Stalling would hurt American shale-oil producers and protect market share.
Russia’s move enraged Saudi Arabia, which not only said it would not cut production on its own but said it would increase output instead and reduce its selling prices in what became effectively a global pricing war.
Prices collapsed as the coronavirus and the COVID-19 illness it causes largely halted global travel.
Under a deal reached in April, OPEC and allied countries were to cut nearly 10 million barrels per day until July, then 8 million barrels per day through the end of the year, and 6 million a day for 16 months beginning in 2021.
عرف العالم الحديث، دولاً وأقاليم عديدة، أرادت انّ تنضوي في ما بينها، بعقد دستوري، داخل نظام جديد عرف بالنظام الفدرالي. الغاية من هذا العقد الفدرالي، هو إتاحة الفرصة للدول أو الأقاليم، في إيجاد صيغة مشتركة لنظام جامع، تعزز فيه الأطراف المعنية، موقفها الموحّد، وموقعها السياسي، والمعنوي، والأمني، والمالي والنقدي والعسكري.
هذه الدول والأقاليم رغم خصوصيتها التي تحرص عليها، إلا أنها آثرت الاختيار والانضمام إلى دولة فدرالية جامعة، لها نظامها الخاص، ودستورها، وقوانينها، وقضاؤها، وجيشها، ونقدها، ورئيسها، وحكومتها، وعلمها، ونشيدها الوطني، يلتزم بها أعضاء ومكوّني الدولة الفدرالية.
خصوصية كلّ دولة أو إقليم عضو، يحترمها الدستور والقضاء والقوانين الفدرالية، حيث إنه لكلّ دولة أو إقليم تابع للدولة الفدرالية، دستورها، ورئيسها، وبرلمانها، وحكومتها، وقوانينها، وقضاؤها، ومواردها المالية المستقلة، وضرائبها الخاصة بها. وهي تعتني بالقطاع الصحي والتعليمي، والأمن الداخلي، وفرض الضرائب، شريطة أن لا تتعارض الإجراءات المتخذة، ذات الصلة، مع نصوص الدستور وقوانين الدولة الفدرالية.
خصوصيّة كلّ إقليم أو دولة منضمّة للدولة الفدرالية، تظهر جلياً، في تكوينها الاجتماعي والثقافي، والتاريخي، والنفسي، الذي لا يسمح بالاندماج الكلي، ويرفض الانصهار في الدولة المركزيّة الواحدة الموحدة، وأيضاً الإصرار على الاحتفاظ بلغتها القومية والتحدّث بها، وتدريسها، وأحياناً تعتمد كلغة رسمية الى جانب اللغة الرسمية للدولة الفدرالية ( كندا، سويسرا، وبلجيكا).
مما لا شكّ فيه انّ الانتقال من الدولة او الإقليم، الى الدولة الفدرالية، تشكل خطوة متقدّمة، تتحصّن داخلها الدولة او الإقليم. إذ انّ الدولة الفدرالية لديها صلاحيات رئيسة يوفرها لها الدستور الفدرالي، حيث تتبع لها القوات المسلحة الاتحادية، والشؤون الخارجية، والعملة والقضاء الفدرالي، وصلاحية إعلان الحرب، وتعيين السفراء.
في الدولة الفدرالية، تصبح الدول والأقاليم الأعضاء، جزءاً لا يتجزأ من مكانة، وهيبة، وأهمية وقوة الدولة الفدرالية، نظراً للفوائد والمكتسبات التي تحققها الدول الأعضاء من خلال هذه المنظومة، وهيكلها الدستوري.
لكن أن تكون هناك دولة مركزية، في بلد كلبنان مثلاً، لا تتجاوز مساحته الـ 10452 كلم٢، وفيه ثماني عشرة طائفة موزعة على مساحة الجغرافيا اللبنانية، كقطع الفسيفساء، ثم ينبري البعض للمطالبة بالفدرالية، انطلاقاً من خلفيات طائفية، وذهنية ضيقة، ومن وجهات نظر سياسية لها أبعادها ورهاناتها الخطيرة، على الرغم من انّ اللامركزية الإدارية الحالية في لبنان، تفعل فعلها، وتستخدم صلاحياتها، وتقوم بواجباتها من خلال المحافظات، والقائمقاميات، والبلديات، بما تتمتع به من صلاحيات، وتنفذها بأعمال ومشاريع في مجالات عديدة، تربوية، وصحية، وتنموية، وخدمية.
لكن عندما تتحول الدولة، من دولة مركزية، الى دولة فدرالية، فهذا أمر خطير، إذ يشكل تراجعاً إلى الوراء، لأنه سيمهّد الطريق في ما بعد، لأصحاب النزعات الانفصالية والاستقلالية، التوجه للانفصال الكامل، والعمل على إنشاء كيانات جديدة هزيلة منفصلة عن الوطن الأمّ.
وما لبنان إلا واحد من الدول في العالم العربي، الذي تفتك به التدخلات الأجنبية الخارجية لا سيما من “إسرائيل”، التي لم تتوقف عن العمل على تفكيك وتفتيت دوله. فالدولة المركزية في العراق، التي أعطت الحكم الذاتي للكرد، وانتقلت الى الدولة الفدرالية، لم تسفر غليل الكرد بحكمهم الذاتي، بل استغلوا الظروف في وقت من الأوقات، ليكشفوا عن نياتهم بالانفصال عن بغداد،
وذلك من خلال إجراء استفتاء، أعلنوا بعده الاستقلال عن العراق، وإقامة الدولة الكردية المستقلة، وإنْ تمّ في ما بعد إحباط هذا الانفصال.
وها هو جنوب السودان، الذي بدأ بالحكم الذاتي، وبعد ذلك بحقّ تقرير المصير، انتهى الى الانفصال الكامل عن الشمال، وإقامة جمهورية جنوب السودان، التي دعمت انفصالها القوى الغربية، ومعها “إسرائيل” التي اعترفت رسمياً وصراحة بذلك، بالإضافة الى دول الجوار السوداني.
وما الاقتتال الداخلي اليوم في ليبيا، واليمن، والصومال، والإرهاب المفروض على سورية والعراق من قبل القوى الأجنبية المتربصة ببلداننا، إلا ليستهدف وحدة الدول، وضربها من الداخل وتقسيمها الى دويلات هزيلة لا حول ولا قوة لها، تتقاتل وتتصارع في ما بينها، لتقوّض أمن ومستقبل الجميع من دون استثناء.
عندما تعلو اليوم أصوات مشبوهة في لبنان، تدعو إلى الفدرالية، فأيّ فدرالية يريدونها؟! هل هناك توافق لبناني عليها!؟
يا دعاة الفدرالية! أنتم لا تريدون وطناً موحّداً، ولا دولة متماسكة، ولا إصلاحاً ولا نهضة. أنتم تريدون لبنان أن يبقى بقرة حلوباً لكم ولعائلاتكم وأزلامكم… فبعد أن جفّ ضرع لبنان، وفعلتم بحقه وحق شعبه ما فعلتموه، تنادون اليوم بالفدرالية، علها تكون بنظركم المخرج المناسب، والملاذ الآمن لكم، لحمايتكم مستقبلاً من المسؤولية والمحاسبة، على ما اقترفته أياديكم السوداء بحق اللبنانيين على مدى عقود.
فحذار حذار من جرّ لبنان وشعبه الى الهلاك والفوضى وتفكيكه. فهذا أمر مرفوض مرفوض، وانْ كلف الحفاظ على وحدة لبنان، المزيد من التضحيات.
اللبنانيون الذين حافظوا على الأرض، لا يمكن لهم التفريط بوحدة الدولة تحت أيّ مسمّيات كانت!
ما نريده، هو لبنان الوحدة والمواطنية الحقيقية، لا لبنان التقسيم والفدرالية.
نريد وطناً نهائياً لجميع أبنائه، لا وطناً تتقاسمه عائلات الإقطاعيات المناطقية المستنسخة…
خيار اللبنانيبن الوحيد هو: إما لبنان الواحد، وإما الفدرالية من دون لبنان، وهذا أمر مرفوض ومستحيل، لأنّ قدر لبنان أن يبقى، وسيبقى…
منذ أن عشنا أيام تلك الحرب المجيدة في حياة لبنان والأمّة قبل 38 عاماً، والتي استمرت حوالي 90 يوماً، وأنا أتساءل كلّ عام عن سبب “تهميش” تلك الحرب والنقص في الاهتمام بها شعبياً وثقافياً وإعلامياً وتوثيقياً، حتى بتنا نسمّيها “اجتياحاً” فيما هي في الحقيقة الحرب العربية – الإسرائيلية الأطول في تاريخ الصراع العربي – الصهيوني، والتي خسر فيها جيش الصهاينة المئات من جنوده وكبار ضباطه، فيما قدّم اللبنانيّون والفلسطينيون والجيش العربي السوري والمتطوّعون العرب، آلاف الشهداء من مدنيين ومقاتلين، وكنت أتساءل عن سبب عدم إقامة المهرجانات والندوات والتحقيقات الإعلامية والمؤتمرات البحثية إلاّ نادراً عن حرب غنية بكلّ المعاني.. بل كنت أشعر أنّ وراء محاولات تجاهل هذا الحدث التاريخي في الماضي رغبة بمحاولات لرسم حاضرنا وإعادة ترتيب مستقبلنا بأشكال معينة…
فهل ظُلمت هذه الحرب، لأنها كانت حرباً عربية بالمعنى الكامل للكلمة، شارك فيها وطنيون لبنانيون، ومقاومون فلسطينيون، وعسكريون سوريون ومتطوّعون عرب، فجسّدوا وحدة النضال القومي وعروبة المعركة التي لا يخشى أعداؤنا شيئاً كما يخشونها، بل يسعون بكلّ وسائلهم إلى تفتيت مجتمعنا العربي وتشجيع كلّ قطر أو مكون من مكوناته على الانسلاخ عن الجسد الأكبر الذي هو الأمّة.
بل هل ظُلمت هذه الحرب، لأنها حرب شعبية بكلّ ما في كلمة شعبية من معنى، حيث ارتسمت في أتونها معادلة ما زالت ترتعد منها فرائص الأعداء وهي معادلة مقاومة لبنانية وفلسطينية تواجه جحافل العدو من أقصى الجنوب إلى قلب العاصمة، وجيش سوري يوقف تقدّم العدو على أكثر من محور في الجبل (بحمدون، عين دارة)، والبقاع (السلطان يعقوب، وبيادر العدس) في محاولة مستميتة منه قطع الطريق بين بيروت ودمشق، وهو هدف استراتيجي لهذا العدو ما زال يسعى إليه حتى اليوم، وما قانون “قيصر” هذه الأيام إلاّ أحد عناوين هذا الاستهداف.
وهل ظُلمت هذه الحرب لأنه في رحمها ولدت مقاومة لبنانية وطنية وقومية وإسلامية، نجحت بدعم حلفائها العرب والمسلمين في دحر الاحتلال عن عاصمتها وأرضها وصولاً إلى ردع عدوانه عام 2006، فقبل هذه الحرب كان الدخول إلى أيّ منطقة لبنانية نزهة، وكانت كلّ حرب إسرائيلية في لبنان اجتياحاً (عام 1972، 1978)، ولكن بعدها بات الأمر مختلفاً..
ثم هل ظُلمت هذه الحرب لأنها كانت بداية تحوّل حقيقي في موازين القوى في المنطقة، وربما في العالم، فباتت للحق قوة، بعد أن كانت القوة هي “صاحبة” الحق أينما كانت..
هل ظُلمت هذه الحرب، لأنها كشفت عجز وفشل أصحابها في تحقيق أهدافهم الرئيسية منها، وهي إخراج المقاومة من لبنان، وفرض اتفاقية صلح عليه ليكون البلد الثاني بعد مصر يوقع مثل هذه المعاهدة..
صحيح أنّ تلك الحرب أخرجت قوات المقاومة الفلسطينية من جنوب لبنان وعاصمته، ولكنها في المقابل لم تنجح في إخراج روح المقاومة من لبنان، بل إنها زادتها توهّجاً واشتعالاً وقدرات وحوّلت حركتها إلى رقم صعب في معادلة المنطقة..
وصحيح أنّ ذلك الاحتلال، وبرعاية أميركية نجح في أن يفرض اتفاقية إذعان في 17 أيار 1983، لكنه بعد أقلّ من عام شهد ذلك الاتفاق المشؤوم سقوطه المدوي بعد حرب الجبل (آب 1983)، وانتفاضة (6 شباط 1983).
وقد يقول البعض إنّ من أسباب “الظلم” و “التهميش” الذي لحق بتلك الحرب المجيدة، هو أنّ إنجازاتها كانت صنع شعب رافض للغزو بكل مكوناته، وأمّة رافضة للعدوان بكلّ أقطارها، وبالتالي لا يمكن استخدامها للإيقاع بين لبناني ولبناني، وبين عربي وعربي، بين مسلم ومسلم..
ففي تلك الحرب، كما قاتل متطوّعون من سورية واليمن والعراق ومصر وأقطار المغرب العربي، قاتل أيضاً فلسطينيون من كل الفصائل، ولبنانيون من كلّ المشارب الفكرية والسياسية والاجتماعية، حتى يمكن القول إنّ ما شهدته العقود الأربعة التي تلت تلك الحرب لم تكن إلاّ محاولات لخلق شروخ وتعميق الانقسامات في ما بين أقطار الأمّة، وداخل كلّ قطر..
لقد جاءت معاهدة سايكس – بيكو في أوائل القرن الفائت لتجزئة المنطقة جغرافياً وأفقياً، ثم جاء المشروع الصهيوني – الأميركي، الحرب المظلومة في لبنان أحد تجلياته، من أجل تفتيت بلدان المنطقة ومجتمعاتها اجتماعياً وعمودياً.
وحين ندعو إلى إخراج تلك الحرب إلى الأضواء وتكريم شهدائها من خلال تخليد أسمائهم في شوارع وساحات مدنهم وقراهم كحدّ أدنى، والبحث الجاد في دروسها وعبرها ونتائجها، وتعميق معانيها ودلالاتها، فلأننا نعتقد أن انتصارات الأمم لا تتمّ إلاّ بتراكم إنجازاتها، وتكامل طاقاتها والبناء على ما جرى تحقيقه، وأن أبرز أسباب انتكاسات حركة تحرّرنا القومي في العقود السابقة هي أنّ كلّ جيل كان يريد إلغاء من سبقه من أجيال..
