Philosophers,
"Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whom_the_gods_would_destroy,_they_first_make_mad
Israelis have been deeply divided these last years, unable to coalesce around a government. After five general elections, they decided to dismiss the Lapid/Gantz team and to put a new coalition – formed around Netanyahu and small Jewish supremacist parties – into power.
However, soon after the formation of the new government, there occurred an severe outbreak of ‘buyers’ remorse’, with a substantial segment of Israelis seemingly ready to contemplate almost anything to oust their government.
Demonstrations have occurred regularly throughout Israel to prevent the country from becoming – in the words of one former Mossad director, “a racist and violent state that cannot survive”...
However, soon after the formation of the new government, there occurred an severe outbreak of ‘buyers’ remorse’, with a substantial segment of Israelis seemingly ready to contemplate almost anything to oust their government.
Demonstrations have occurred regularly throughout Israel to prevent the country from becoming – in the words of one former Mossad director, “a racist and violent state that cannot survive”...
..Most people outside Israel tend to lump together different, and often opposing views in Israel, solely through the reductive perspective of seeing all these diverse actors as being Jews and Zionists of slightly differing hues.
They couldn’t be more wrong. There is an existential divide; there are diverse forms of Zionism: The divisions go to the very meaning of what it means to be a Jew. Benjamin Netanyahu is a ‘revisionist Zionist’ i.e. a follower of Vladimir Jabotinsky (for whom his father Benzion Netanyahu served as private secretary): ‘Revisionist Zionism’ is the polar opposite to the cultural Zionism of the World Jewish Congress.
As a young man, Netanyahu professed that Palestine is “a land without a people for a people without a land”. He was consequently in favour of expelling all Arab ‘blow-ins’ (as he saw them). Furthermore, he advocated the idea that the State of Israel extends “from the Nile to the Euphrates”.
However, during his 16 years as prime minister, Netanyahu was perceived as having moderated (become more pragmatic), but still devious. With hindsight, maybe he simply adapted to the times. Or possibly, he was practicing Straussian ‘double-truth’ – the practice which Leo Strauss taught his followers as the only means of preserving ‘true’ Judaism within the encompassing ‘liberal-European’ (largely Ashkenazi) ethos. Strauss’ ‘esoterism’ (drawn from Maimonides, the early Jewish mystic), was one of outwardly professing a ‘worldly thing’, whilst inwardly preserving a completely contrasting esoteric reading of the world.
Just to be clear: Revisionist Zionists (of which Netanyahu is one), include Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon who demonstrated that of which they were capable with the Nakba (the mass expulsion of Palestinians) in 1948.
Netanyahu is of this ‘line’ – and so is a key dominant faction in Washington...
They couldn’t be more wrong. There is an existential divide; there are diverse forms of Zionism: The divisions go to the very meaning of what it means to be a Jew. Benjamin Netanyahu is a ‘revisionist Zionist’ i.e. a follower of Vladimir Jabotinsky (for whom his father Benzion Netanyahu served as private secretary): ‘Revisionist Zionism’ is the polar opposite to the cultural Zionism of the World Jewish Congress.
As a young man, Netanyahu professed that Palestine is “a land without a people for a people without a land”. He was consequently in favour of expelling all Arab ‘blow-ins’ (as he saw them). Furthermore, he advocated the idea that the State of Israel extends “from the Nile to the Euphrates”.
However, during his 16 years as prime minister, Netanyahu was perceived as having moderated (become more pragmatic), but still devious. With hindsight, maybe he simply adapted to the times. Or possibly, he was practicing Straussian ‘double-truth’ – the practice which Leo Strauss taught his followers as the only means of preserving ‘true’ Judaism within the encompassing ‘liberal-European’ (largely Ashkenazi) ethos. Strauss’ ‘esoterism’ (drawn from Maimonides, the early Jewish mystic), was one of outwardly professing a ‘worldly thing’, whilst inwardly preserving a completely contrasting esoteric reading of the world.
Just to be clear: Revisionist Zionists (of which Netanyahu is one), include Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon who demonstrated that of which they were capable with the Nakba (the mass expulsion of Palestinians) in 1948.
Netanyahu is of this ‘line’ – and so is a key dominant faction in Washington...
The ‘war’ with Washington, post-7 Oct
At first, Washington reacted with unreflective and immediate support for Israel, vetoing various UNSC ceasefire resolutions and fully provisioning Israel’s military needs for the destruction of the Palestinian enclave in Gaza. It was unthinkable in the U.S.’ Establishment eyes, to do anything other than support Israel. Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) is enshrined as being one of the foundational structures supporting the brittle branch on which U.S. hegemony rests.
Ordinary Americans (and some in the Administration) however, were watching the horrors of genocide ‘live’ on their cell phones. The Democratic Party started to fracture badly. The ‘power-brokers’ in the backroom began to put pressure on the Israeli war cabinet to negotiate the release of the hostages and conclude a ceasefire in Gaza – hoping for a return to the status quo ante.
Ordinary Americans (and some in the Administration) however, were watching the horrors of genocide ‘live’ on their cell phones. The Democratic Party started to fracture badly. The ‘power-brokers’ in the backroom began to put pressure on the Israeli war cabinet to negotiate the release of the hostages and conclude a ceasefire in Gaza – hoping for a return to the status quo ante.
But Netanyahu’s government – in various tautological ways – said ‘no’, unashamedly playing on the 7 October trauma of its citizens, to assert the need to destroy Hamas.
Washington somewhat belatedly came to understand that 7 October was now the pretext for Jabotinsky’s followers to do what they had always wanted to do: To expel the Palestinians from Palestine.
The Israeli message was perfectly ‘received and understood’ by Washington’s ruling strata: The Revisionist Zionists (who represent about 2 million Israelis) intended cynically to impose their will on the Anglo-Saxons; to threaten them with igniting war with the world, in which the U.S. would ‘burn’: They would not hesitate to plunge the U.S. into a wide regional war, should the White House try to undercut the neo-Nakba project.
In spite of the absolute support Israel has across Washington, it seems that the ruling class decided that the ‘Revisionist stratagem’ ultimatum could not be tolerated. A crucial U.S. election was in train. U.S. soft power around the World was collapsing. Anyone around the globe watching events unfold understood that killing 40,000+ innocent people had nothing to do with eliminating Hamas...
Washington somewhat belatedly came to understand that 7 October was now the pretext for Jabotinsky’s followers to do what they had always wanted to do: To expel the Palestinians from Palestine.
The Israeli message was perfectly ‘received and understood’ by Washington’s ruling strata: The Revisionist Zionists (who represent about 2 million Israelis) intended cynically to impose their will on the Anglo-Saxons; to threaten them with igniting war with the world, in which the U.S. would ‘burn’: They would not hesitate to plunge the U.S. into a wide regional war, should the White House try to undercut the neo-Nakba project.
In spite of the absolute support Israel has across Washington, it seems that the ruling class decided that the ‘Revisionist stratagem’ ultimatum could not be tolerated. A crucial U.S. election was in train. U.S. soft power around the World was collapsing. Anyone around the globe watching events unfold understood that killing 40,000+ innocent people had nothing to do with eliminating Hamas...
..To understand the nature of this occult war between the Revisionist Zionists and Washington, it is necessary to revisit Leo Strauss, a German Jew, who had left Germany in 1932 under the auspices of a Rockefeller Foundation grant, finally to arrive in the U.S. in 1938.
The point here is that the ideas at play in this ideological struggle are not just about Israelis and Palestinians. They are about control and power. The essence of the present Israeli government’s agenda – particularly its controversial Legal Reform – are pure Leo Strauss derivatives.
The concern amongst U.S. rulers was that Netanyahu’s agenda was becoming an exercise in pure Straussian power – at the expense of secular American power...
The point here is that the ideas at play in this ideological struggle are not just about Israelis and Palestinians. They are about control and power. The essence of the present Israeli government’s agenda – particularly its controversial Legal Reform – are pure Leo Strauss derivatives.
The concern amongst U.S. rulers was that Netanyahu’s agenda was becoming an exercise in pure Straussian power – at the expense of secular American power...
..Revisionist notions are shared by the influential group of Americans that formed about this Professor of Philosophy – Leo Strauss – at the University of Chicago. Many accounts report that he had formed a small inner group of faithful Jewish students to whom he gave private oral instruction: The esoteric inner meaning to politics was centred, hearsay recounts, on asserting political hegemony as the means to guard against a new Shoah (holocaust).
The core of Strauss’s thought – the theme to which he would return time and again – is what he called the curious polarity between Jerusalem and Athens. What did these two names signify? On the surface, it would seem that Jerusalem and Athens represent two fundamentally different, even antagonistic, codes or ways of life.
The Bible, Strauss held, presents itself not as a philosophy or a science, but as a code of law; an unchangeable divine law mandating how we should live. In fact, the first five books of the Bible are known in the Jewish tradition as the Torah and ‘Torah’ is perhaps most literally translated as ‘Law’. The attitude taught by the Bible is not one of self-reflection or critical examination – but of absolute obedience, faith, and trust in Revelation. If the paradigmatic Athenian is Socrates, the paradigmatic biblical figure is Abraham and the Akedah (the binding of Isaac), who is prepared to sacrifice his son for an unintelligible divine command...
The core of Strauss’s thought – the theme to which he would return time and again – is what he called the curious polarity between Jerusalem and Athens. What did these two names signify? On the surface, it would seem that Jerusalem and Athens represent two fundamentally different, even antagonistic, codes or ways of life.
The Bible, Strauss held, presents itself not as a philosophy or a science, but as a code of law; an unchangeable divine law mandating how we should live. In fact, the first five books of the Bible are known in the Jewish tradition as the Torah and ‘Torah’ is perhaps most literally translated as ‘Law’. The attitude taught by the Bible is not one of self-reflection or critical examination – but of absolute obedience, faith, and trust in Revelation. If the paradigmatic Athenian is Socrates, the paradigmatic biblical figure is Abraham and the Akedah (the binding of Isaac), who is prepared to sacrifice his son for an unintelligible divine command...
..The U.S. Straussians began forming a political group half a century ago, in 1972. They were all members of Democratic Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson’s staff, and included Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle and David Wurmser. In 1996, this Straussians trio wrote a study for the new Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This report (the Clean Break Strategy) advocated the elimination of Yasser Arafat; the annexation of the Palestinian territories; a war against Iraq and the transfer of Palestinians there. Netanyahu was very much a member of this circle.
The Strategy was inspired not only by the political theories of Leo Strauss, but also by those of his friend, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the founder of Revisionist Zionism, to whom Netanyahu’s father served as private secretary.
For the avoidance of confusion, the American Straussians – today usually called ‘neo-cons’ – are not in principle opposed to the Netanyahu government’s Nakba agenda. It was not Gazans suffering that exercised them; rather, it was the threats by the Revisionist Zionists to launch an attack on Iran and on Lebanon. For, were this war to be launched, the Israeli army – for certain – would not be able to defeat Hezbollah on its own. And for Israel to wage war on Iran would amount to certifiable madness.
Thus to save Israel, the U.S. undoubtedly would be forced to intervene...
The Strategy was inspired not only by the political theories of Leo Strauss, but also by those of his friend, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, the founder of Revisionist Zionism, to whom Netanyahu’s father served as private secretary.
For the avoidance of confusion, the American Straussians – today usually called ‘neo-cons’ – are not in principle opposed to the Netanyahu government’s Nakba agenda. It was not Gazans suffering that exercised them; rather, it was the threats by the Revisionist Zionists to launch an attack on Iran and on Lebanon. For, were this war to be launched, the Israeli army – for certain – would not be able to defeat Hezbollah on its own. And for Israel to wage war on Iran would amount to certifiable madness.
Thus to save Israel, the U.S. undoubtedly would be forced to intervene...
..The only alternative for the U.S. would be to encourage a military coup in Tel Aviv. Already, some senior officers and non-commissioned Israeli officers have come together to suggest this. In March 2024, General Benny Gantz was invited to Washington (against the wishes of the PM). He did not, however, accept the invitation to overthrow the Prime Minister. He went to make sure that he could still save Israel, and that his allies in the U.S. would not turn against the Israeli military cadre.
This may seem odd. But the reality is that the IDF feels undermined, even betrayed. The agreement struck at the outset of the government between Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir (of Otzma Yehudit) – was the outlier to this anxiety.
The governmental accord provided for Ben-Gvir to head an autonomous armed force in the West Bank. He was given charge not only of the national police, but also the border police, which until then, had been the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence...
This may seem odd. But the reality is that the IDF feels undermined, even betrayed. The agreement struck at the outset of the government between Netanyahu and Itamar Ben-Gvir (of Otzma Yehudit) – was the outlier to this anxiety.
The governmental accord provided for Ben-Gvir to head an autonomous armed force in the West Bank. He was given charge not only of the national police, but also the border police, which until then, had been the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence...
..Ben-Gvir is a Kahanist, meaning a disciple of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who demands the expulsion of Palestinian Arab citizens from Israel and the Occupied Territories and the establishment of a theocracy, and he makes little secret of wanting to use the border police to expel the Palestinian populations, be they Muslim or Christian.
Ben Gvir’s official forces represent, as Benny Gantz noted, a ‘private army’. But that is the half of it – for he separately holds the allegiance of hundreds of thousand West Bank settler-vigilantes over whom the radical Rabbi, Dov Lior and his coterie of radical Jabotinsky Rabbi influencers, have control.
The regular army fears these vigilantes – as we saw at Sde Teiman military base – when Ben Gvir’s militia vigilantes stormed the base, to protect soldiers accused of raping Palestinian prisoners...
Ben Gvir’s official forces represent, as Benny Gantz noted, a ‘private army’. But that is the half of it – for he separately holds the allegiance of hundreds of thousand West Bank settler-vigilantes over whom the radical Rabbi, Dov Lior and his coterie of radical Jabotinsky Rabbi influencers, have control.
The regular army fears these vigilantes – as we saw at Sde Teiman military base – when Ben Gvir’s militia vigilantes stormed the base, to protect soldiers accused of raping Palestinian prisoners...
..The IDF élite want a ceasefire/hostage deal, primarily to ‘stop Ben-Gvir’ – not because it resolves Israel’s Palestinian issue. It doesn’t.
But Netanyahu’s ultimatum is that if the Haniyeh assassination isn’t sufficient to plunge the U.S. into the Big War that will give him (Netanyahu) the Great Victory, he can always trigger a bigger provocation: Ben Gvir also controls the Temple Mount security – there is always the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa escalatory ladder available for climbing (through threatening the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque).
America is trapped. The power-brokers are unhappy, but impotent. https://strategic-culture.su/news/2024/08/19/revisionist-zionists-dare-us-to-pull-the-plug-on-their-nakba-agenda/
But Netanyahu’s ultimatum is that if the Haniyeh assassination isn’t sufficient to plunge the U.S. into the Big War that will give him (Netanyahu) the Great Victory, he can always trigger a bigger provocation: Ben Gvir also controls the Temple Mount security – there is always the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa escalatory ladder available for climbing (through threatening the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque).
America is trapped. The power-brokers are unhappy, but impotent. https://strategic-culture.su/news/2024/08/19/revisionist-zionists-dare-us-to-pull-the-plug-on-their-nakba-agenda/
The Israeli military (IDF) on Tuesday announced the recovery of six hostage bodies from the Gaza Strip. They have all been identified as victims who had been kidnapped alive on Oct.7: Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg, Chaim Peri, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Popplewell.
The grim fact that most of the IDF's recent recoveries are of deceased persons doesn't bode well for the remainder 109 hostages, who have been held prisoners of Hamas in a raging war zone for more than ten months.
The Hostages Families and Missing Forum called on the Israeli government to "do everything in its power" to finalize a long-delayed agreement to gain the release of the rest. More are feared already dead.
"Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all the murdered for dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation," the group said. "The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal."
On Monday we noted that Secretary Blinken while in Tel Aviv issued words praising Netanyahu for accepting a US-proposed ceasefire, but one that doesn't actually exist within the framework of real negotiations with Hamas.
A mere 12 hours later, Netanyahu told the hostage victims' family members in a meeting that "I’m not sure there will be a deal, but if there is a deal – the deal will be one that preserves … Israel’s strategic assets." https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-recovers-bodies-6-hostages-victims-families-blast-netanyahu-no-deal
The grim fact that most of the IDF's recent recoveries are of deceased persons doesn't bode well for the remainder 109 hostages, who have been held prisoners of Hamas in a raging war zone for more than ten months.
The Hostages Families and Missing Forum called on the Israeli government to "do everything in its power" to finalize a long-delayed agreement to gain the release of the rest. More are feared already dead.
"Israel has a moral and ethical obligation to return all the murdered for dignified burial and to bring all living hostages home for rehabilitation," the group said. "The immediate return of the remaining 109 hostages can only be achieved through a negotiated deal."
On Monday we noted that Secretary Blinken while in Tel Aviv issued words praising Netanyahu for accepting a US-proposed ceasefire, but one that doesn't actually exist within the framework of real negotiations with Hamas.
A mere 12 hours later, Netanyahu told the hostage victims' family members in a meeting that "I’m not sure there will be a deal, but if there is a deal – the deal will be one that preserves … Israel’s strategic assets." https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-recovers-bodies-6-hostages-victims-families-blast-netanyahu-no-deal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in Tel Aviv in what both called "a very good and important meeting." Blinken touted that Netanyahu has accepted latest US proposal on a Gaza ceasefire deal, and now he's urging that Hamas "must do the same"...
..But the reality is that this is Blinken's ninth visit to Israel since the war began after the Hamas terror attack of Oct.7, and each and every trip has been filled with statements of the voicing a US "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security and simultaneous declarations that a truce as at the 'goal line'.
And yet the same blame-game always quickly ensues following such empty declarations, over the question of who is to blame for ultimately blowing supposedly ever-so close to the goal line deal - though realistically it doesn't seem there is a viable deal on the table at all...
..But the reality is that this is Blinken's ninth visit to Israel since the war began after the Hamas terror attack of Oct.7, and each and every trip has been filled with statements of the voicing a US "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security and simultaneous declarations that a truce as at the 'goal line'.
And yet the same blame-game always quickly ensues following such empty declarations, over the question of who is to blame for ultimately blowing supposedly ever-so close to the goal line deal - though realistically it doesn't seem there is a viable deal on the table at all...
..On the recent build-up of Pentagon assets in the region, Blinken claimed that Washington does "not want to provoke aggression" but rather it's all about deterrence, and "also to make clear that if it does, we are fully prepared to defend Israel."
Meanwhile, Blinken on the ground in Tel Aviv, Al Jazeera is reporting that IDF strikes across Gaza have expanded and are relentless...
..According to the latest AJ newswire headline: Senior Hamas Official says they agreed to proposal made by Biden and the US administration failed to convince Netanyahu of it, Al Jazeera reports. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/blinken-praises-netanyahus-acceptance-gaza-truce-deal-doesnt-exist Meanwhile, Blinken on the ground in Tel Aviv, Al Jazeera is reporting that IDF strikes across Gaza have expanded and are relentless...
‘Operation al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 318: Gazans given new evacuation orders as Netanyahu insists on additional ceasefire conditions https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/operation-al-aqsa-flood-day-318-gazans-given-new-evacuation-orders-as-netanyahu-insists-on-additional-ceasefire-conditions/
Egypt agrees to Israeli control of Gaza border in return for Rafah reopening
Cairo to allow Israel to keep soldiers in Philadelphi Corridor or build an underground barrier - but the border crossing must be operated by Palestinians https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-agrees-israeli-control-gaza-border-return-rafah-reopening
Israel Premier Netanyahu refused to meet (bitch) UK Foreign Secretary over anger at ICC decision - report
65% of Israeli Jews oppose criminal prosecution for soldiers suspected of raping Palestinian detainees https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/65-of-israeli-jews-oppose-criminal-prosecution-for-soldiers-suspected-of-raping-palestinian-detainees/
British Foreign Office official resigns over Israel arms sales, war crimes in Gaza
Scottish government suspends all meetings with Israel
'The Scottish Government does not support any normalisation of its relations with the Israeli Government during this period,' says External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/scottish-government-suspends-all-meetings-with-israel-/3307960
Israel Is Holding Thousands of Palestinians Captive — Including Children
Prolonging the genocide is a smokescreen for Israel’s other war in the West Bank
UNRWA loses touch with many staff in Gaza, learning of deaths UNRWA Chief of Staff Ben Majekodunmi told Sputnik
He explained that "communication is very limited. Many of our employees can not work, in particular, because all schools are closed since October 7, or because they are taking care of their children."
"Over 205 UNRWA employees have died in Gaza as we are gradually receiving information on casualties. For instance, recently we have learned about the death of our colleague killed in January," the official said.
Majekodunmi added that 135 children of UNRWA staff have been murdered in Gaza. https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Arts&Culture/unrwa-loses-touch-with-many-staff-in-gaza--learning-of-death
Nearly 1/3rd of Entire U.S. Navy Deployed to Middle East: Israel-Iran Fight Coming
“Among other aspects of this conspiracy, the Biden family and their business associates received tens of millions of dollars from foreign interests by leading those interests to believe that such payments would provide them access to and influence with President Biden,” the executive summary added...
Meta permanently bans The Cradle in latest attack on free speech
The social media giant has singled out an independent West Asian media outlet, as it intensifies its crackdown on Palestinian and regional voices, both on its platforms and among its employees https://thecradle.co/articles/meta-permanently-bans-the-cradle-in-latest-attack-on-free-speech
Cairo to allow Israel to keep soldiers in Philadelphi Corridor or build an underground barrier - but the border crossing must be operated by Palestinians https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-agrees-israeli-control-gaza-border-return-rafah-reopening
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly refused to meet British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, during his visit to Israel last week, apparently over the United Kingdom’s withdrawal of its objections to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrants for top Israeli officials.
On Friday last week, Lammy embarked on a joint trip to Israel with French Foreign Minister, Stephane Sejourne, in which they met their Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, and the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer. During his visit, Lammy called for a ceasefire and warned of a “dangerous moment” for the wider region.
Lammy had also reportedly been aiming to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, according to Israeli media outlets such as Channel 13 News and The Times of Israel, but he had refused to meet the British Foreign Secretary due to an apparent scheduling conflict. The refusal was despite multiple requests by the British government for a meeting with the Israeli Premier.
Citing unnamed Israeli sources, the outlets reported that Netanyahu was angered by the UK’s new Labour government led by Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, due to his recent decision to withdraw British objections to the ICC’s efforts to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-israel-premier-netanyahu-refused-to-meet-uk-foreign-secretary-over-anger-at-icc-decision-report/
On Friday last week, Lammy embarked on a joint trip to Israel with French Foreign Minister, Stephane Sejourne, in which they met their Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, and the Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer. During his visit, Lammy called for a ceasefire and warned of a “dangerous moment” for the wider region.
Lammy had also reportedly been aiming to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, according to Israeli media outlets such as Channel 13 News and The Times of Israel, but he had refused to meet the British Foreign Secretary due to an apparent scheduling conflict. The refusal was despite multiple requests by the British government for a meeting with the Israeli Premier.
Citing unnamed Israeli sources, the outlets reported that Netanyahu was angered by the UK’s new Labour government led by Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, due to his recent decision to withdraw British objections to the ICC’s efforts to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-israel-premier-netanyahu-refused-to-meet-uk-foreign-secretary-over-anger-at-icc-decision-report/
The resignation email was sent to a wide set of distribution lists including hundreds of government officials, embassy staff and special advisors to Foreign Office ministers.
Smith said he had previously worked in Middle East arms export licensing assessment for the government and “each day” colleagues were witnessing “clear and unquestionable examples” of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza.
“Senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open genocidal intent, Israeli soldiers take videos deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property,” he wrote.
“Whole streets and universities have been demolished, humanitarian aid is being blocked and civilians are regularly left with no safe quarter to flee to. Red Crescent ambulances have been attacked, schools and hospitals are regularly targeted. These are War Crimes.”
He stressed there was “no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel”. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-british-foreign-office-official-resigns-over-israel-arms-sales-war-crimes-in-gaza/
Smith said he had previously worked in Middle East arms export licensing assessment for the government and “each day” colleagues were witnessing “clear and unquestionable examples” of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza.
“Senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open genocidal intent, Israeli soldiers take videos deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property,” he wrote.
“Whole streets and universities have been demolished, humanitarian aid is being blocked and civilians are regularly left with no safe quarter to flee to. Red Crescent ambulances have been attacked, schools and hospitals are regularly targeted. These are War Crimes.”
He stressed there was “no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel”. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-british-foreign-office-official-resigns-over-israel-arms-sales-war-crimes-in-gaza/
'The Scottish Government does not support any normalisation of its relations with the Israeli Government during this period,' says External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/scottish-government-suspends-all-meetings-with-israel-/3307960
In October 2023, Fadiah Barghouti’s home in Ramallah was raided by Israeli forces. Soldiers broke down her door and smashed everything that they could get their hands on. They were searching for her son Basel, whom they beat along with her other son, saying they would all “pay the price for supporting Hamas.” It was a claim Barghouti was familiar with: Her husband Mahmoud is currently being held in an Israeli prison for the same unsubstantiated charge, as he has been on and off for 10 of the last 30 years.
Still, Barghouti was unwilling to lose Basel, a computer engineering student at Birzeit University, to the abyss of the Israeli prison system. She began advocating for his release, along with other Palestinian detainees like her husband, on social media, in interviews and at public demonstrations. So, in February, Israeli forces arrested her too.
“I experienced the meaning of the stories that we have heard about Guantánamo,” Barghouti told Truthout.
Barghouti and her son are among the more than 10,000 Palestinian men, women and children who have been arrested by Israeli forces since October 7. Taken into custody in violent raids and held indefinitely without charge under conditions that include hunger, torture and even death, many Palestinian detainees are essentially held hostage by the Israeli prison system. https://scheerpost.com/2024/08/18/israel-is-holding-thousands-of-palestinians-captive-including-children/
Still, Barghouti was unwilling to lose Basel, a computer engineering student at Birzeit University, to the abyss of the Israeli prison system. She began advocating for his release, along with other Palestinian detainees like her husband, on social media, in interviews and at public demonstrations. So, in February, Israeli forces arrested her too.
“I experienced the meaning of the stories that we have heard about Guantánamo,” Barghouti told Truthout.
Barghouti and her son are among the more than 10,000 Palestinian men, women and children who have been arrested by Israeli forces since October 7. Taken into custody in violent raids and held indefinitely without charge under conditions that include hunger, torture and even death, many Palestinian detainees are essentially held hostage by the Israeli prison system. https://scheerpost.com/2024/08/18/israel-is-holding-thousands-of-palestinians-captive-including-children/
Since coming to power in December 2022, Netanyahu’s latest government has approved 12,000 new housing units for illegal settlements, while ordering the demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes and other civilian infrastructure.
In the first three months of 2024, Israel declared nearly 6,000 acres of the West Bank to be “state-owned land”, and therefore made it eligible for settlement construction. The decision was described by the Israeli watchdog Peace Now as the “largest West Bank land grab in 30 years.”
The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is already under way. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, in the first half of 2024 alone, at least 1,000 Palestinians were forcefully displaced while nearly 160,000 were affected by home demolitions.
The Israeli war on the West Bank has come at a high price in Palestinian blood. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-prolonging-the-genocide-is-a-smokescreen-for-israels-other-war-in-the-west-bank/
In the first three months of 2024, Israel declared nearly 6,000 acres of the West Bank to be “state-owned land”, and therefore made it eligible for settlement construction. The decision was described by the Israeli watchdog Peace Now as the “largest West Bank land grab in 30 years.”
The ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is already under way. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, in the first half of 2024 alone, at least 1,000 Palestinians were forcefully displaced while nearly 160,000 were affected by home demolitions.
The Israeli war on the West Bank has come at a high price in Palestinian blood. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240819-prolonging-the-genocide-is-a-smokescreen-for-israels-other-war-in-the-west-bank/
He explained that "communication is very limited. Many of our employees can not work, in particular, because all schools are closed since October 7, or because they are taking care of their children."
"Over 205 UNRWA employees have died in Gaza as we are gradually receiving information on casualties. For instance, recently we have learned about the death of our colleague killed in January," the official said.
Majekodunmi added that 135 children of UNRWA staff have been murdered in Gaza. https://english.almayadeen.net/news/Arts&Culture/unrwa-loses-touch-with-many-staff-in-gaza--learning-of-death
The longer Iran takes to retaliate against Israel for the assassination of Ismail Heniyeh in Tehran a few weeks ago, the more force the US moves into position to "defend" Israel. https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news-selections/world-news/nearly-1-3rd-of-entire-u-s-navy-deployed-to-middle-east-israel-iran-fight-coming
House probe concludes Joe Biden committed impeachable offenses by helping to enrich his family
The 291-page report lays out evidence of the Biden family’s foreign payments and the family patriarch’s role in meeting or speaking with partners.
“First and foremost, overwhelming evidence demonstrates that President Biden participated in a conspiracy to monetize his office of public trust to enrich his family,” the committee’s concluded in the the report released the day Biden was to be honored at the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.The 291-page report lays out evidence of the Biden family’s foreign payments and the family patriarch’s role in meeting or speaking with partners.
“Among other aspects of this conspiracy, the Biden family and their business associates received tens of millions of dollars from foreign interests by leading those interests to believe that such payments would provide them access to and influence with President Biden,” the executive summary added...
..The committee’s investigation found Hunter Biden and other family members received over $27 million from foreign sources. These funds were often obscured in “shell companies” to hide their true origins, the committee says. Some of the funds sent from China, for example, ended up directly in Joe Biden’s bank account...
..“Then-Vice President Biden met or spoke with nearly every one of the Biden family’s foreign business associates, including those from Ukraine, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan. As a result, the Biden family has received millions of dollars from these foreign entities,” the report reads.....The IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, who worked together on the Hunter Biden investigation, approached Congress last year with complaints that the Justice Department was improperly giving Biden “preferential treatment” to avoid filing charges against him...
..Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Wolf—a deputy to Weiss—intervened to stop a search warrant at Joe Biden’s Delaware home over “optics” concerns despite admitting there would be evidence at that location, Shapley testified. https://justthenews.com/accountability/political-ethics/emb-5am-819-house-committees-conclude-joe-biden-engaged-impeachable The 90% spending cut at Twitter/X looks like it might apply: Trump would like Musk to be his adviser if he wins election — news agency
US ex-President said that he will offer to the businessman a position https://tass.com/world/1831217The social media giant has singled out an independent West Asian media outlet, as it intensifies its crackdown on Palestinian and regional voices, both on its platforms and among its employees https://thecradle.co/articles/meta-permanently-bans-the-cradle-in-latest-attack-on-free-speech
Thousands of marchers took to the streets for a mostly peaceful protest near the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on its opening day, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for Israel.
But several demonstrators were arrested when dozens of them broke through a security fence around the Chicago venue.
The turnout appeared to be well below the tens of thousands that organisers had hoped for and short of the 15,000 they claimed turned out.
Later in the evening, President Joe Biden acknowledged that the protesters "out on the street have a point" in his primetime convention farewell speech.
"A lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides," he said, adding that a US-brokered ceasefire - which has so far proved elusive - was necessary.
Protests in Chicago have highlighted divisions among Democrats over one of the most contentious issues on the left of American politics, US support for Israel’s war in Gaza. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvge9k0r1llo
Harris Refuses to Participate in Televised Debate on September 4, Trump Says
Harris Polls "Much Less Rosy" Than Reported, SuperPAC Admits
Kamala Refuses to Hire Unvaxxed for Campaign
RFK Jr Campaign Mulling "Joining Forces With Trump" Because We 'Run The Risk Of Enabling A Harris/Walz Presidency'
Just days after refuting reports that RFK Jr approached Harris for a cabinet position, his running mate, Nicole Shanahan just dropped a bombshell during a podcast that could change the race considerably. But several demonstrators were arrested when dozens of them broke through a security fence around the Chicago venue.
The turnout appeared to be well below the tens of thousands that organisers had hoped for and short of the 15,000 they claimed turned out.
Later in the evening, President Joe Biden acknowledged that the protesters "out on the street have a point" in his primetime convention farewell speech.
"A lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides," he said, adding that a US-brokered ceasefire - which has so far proved elusive - was necessary.
Protests in Chicago have highlighted divisions among Democrats over one of the most contentious issues on the left of American politics, US support for Israel’s war in Gaza. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvge9k0r1llo
"Comrade Kamala Harris has just informed us that she will NOT do the FoxNews Debate on September 4th," Trump said on social media. "I am not surprised by this development because I feel that she knows it is very difficult, at best, for her to defend her record setting Flip-Flopping on absolutely everything she once believed in."
Trump noted that instead of the debate on that day, Fox will host a televised meeting with him in Pennsylvania. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240820/harris-refuses-to-participate-in-televised-debate-on-september-4-trump-says-1119837680.html
Trump noted that instead of the debate on that day, Fox will host a televised meeting with him in Pennsylvania. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240820/harris-refuses-to-participate-in-televised-debate-on-september-4-trump-says-1119837680.html
Study Shows 84% of Media Coverage of Kamala is Positive, 89% of Trump is Negative [Kennedy is never mentioned, ghostlike...]
And while Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance and his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz, have received nearly equal amounts of airtime, the networks have celebrated Walz (62% positive press) and punished Vance (92% negative). https://www.lifenews.com/2024/08/19/study-shows-84-of-media-coverage-of-kamala-is-positive-89-of-trump-is-negative/
Don Lemon Hits The Streets and Can’t Find A Single Kamala Harris Voter
He thought he’d hit up New Jersey and ask them who they’re voting for, Trump or Harris.
I’m sure Lemon thought he’d get a bunch of Kamala support, but turns out he got NONE!
You have to understand how this works, this is a 2:00 clip that was no doubt edited down from much longer raw footage.
And you have to assume if even ONE person said Kamala Harris, he would have included that somewhere in the 2 minutes. https://100percentfedup.com/hilarious-don-lemon-hits-streetsnt-find-single/
I’m sure Lemon thought he’d get a bunch of Kamala support, but turns out he got NONE!
You have to understand how this works, this is a 2:00 clip that was no doubt edited down from much longer raw footage.
And you have to assume if even ONE person said Kamala Harris, he would have included that somewhere in the 2 minutes. https://100percentfedup.com/hilarious-don-lemon-hits-streetsnt-find-single/
Same story: Ex-CNN host Don Lemon surprised by New Jersey voters' take on election: 'Four years ago, it was a lot better' One voter said he 'made a lot more money' four years ago https://www.foxnews.com/media/ex-cnn-host-don-lemon-surprised-new-jersey-voters-take-election-four-years-ago-lot-better
Mark Davin Harris of political consulting firm ColdSpark says they're seeing a "historic response bias on surveys that is setting the table for a large polling miss this fall." Diving right in, Harris says pollsters are essentially injecting unreported bias into polls by targeting subgroups more likely to answer the way they want. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/internal-harris-polling-much-less-rosy-public-polls-super-pac-founder
“Harris for President requires all employees to be “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccination status as prescribed by the CDC as a condition of employment, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law. If you seek a reasonable accommodation in relation to the campaign’s COVID-19 policy, you should speak to the HR Department*prior to reporting to an office location.” https://www.globalresearch.ca/kamala-refuses-hire-unvaxxed-campaign/5865681
"Unvaccinated"? RFK Jr. Refutes Report That He Approached Harris For Cabinet Position https://www.zerohedge.com/political/rfk-jr-refutes-report-he-approached-harris-cabinet-position
Appearing on the 'Impact Theory' podcast (that was filmed yesterday), Shanahan said they are debating whether to stay in the race or drop out and join forces with Trump:
“There’s two options that we're looking at... and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Waltz presidency because we draw more votes from Trump. Or we walk away right now and join forces with with Donald Trump and explain to our base why we're making this decision.”
Shanahan is clearly disillusioned at the anti-democratic methods that the Democratic Party have pulled to stall RFK Jr's progress: "...the DNC made it impossible for us...
...they have banned us, shadow-banned us. kept us off stages. manipulated polls. used lawfare against us. sued us in every possible State. They've even planted insiders into our campaign to disrupt it, and to create actual legal issues for us. I mean the extent by which the sabotage they've unleashed upon us is mindblowing." https://www.zerohedge.com/political/rfk-jr-mulling-joining-forces-trump-because-we-run-risk-enabling-harriswalz-presidency
You can always sell unused bricks if nobody picks them up this week... Pallets of bricks delivered ahead of Chicago DNC; Antifa prepares for ‘summer of rage’
Suspicious deliveries of bricks have been reported in multiple locations across Chicago as the city braces for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) 'Hell Week.' Concerns mount as residents and officials recall similar tactics used by Antifa in past protests that erupted into widespread violence. https://sqauk.com/pallets-of-bricks-delivered-ahead-chicago-dnc-antifa-prepares-summer-rage/ Russia plans to raise the topic of the acts of sabotage at the Nord Stream gas pipelines at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky said. "Of course, at some point we will bring it to the attention of the Security Council, most likely the open briefing," he told journalists. https://tass.com/politics/1831721
Gilbert Doctorow, Kyiv plans to intensify attacks on Russian military
..If they are introduced, the Russians have already said what they will do. They will use tactical nuclear weapons to destroy the bases from which those F-16s are stationed. That is most likely in Moldova, and quite possibly in Romania. But let me explain why they would use nuclear weapons, because people who have been in contact with me, readers of my blogs, have said, “Why use nuclear when you can destroy the F-16s with conventional Russian missiles, the Iskander?”
The reason is very simple. Russian nuclear doctrine is changing as we talk. And Russia, if it decides to destroy the F-16s, will do so very likely with tactical nuclear weapons to deliver a very strong message to NATO, which is: don’t even think of escalating further, because we will be in nuclear war. https://gilbertdoctorow.com/2024/08/19/wion-new-york-bureau-kyiv-plans-to-intensify-attacks-on-russian-military/ Andrew Korybko, Why Might Ukraine Want Russia to Use Nuclear Weapons?
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned on Sunday in an interview with leading Russian media that
“Such escalation on the part of Ukraine (by invading Kursk) is an attempt to push Russia to asymmetric actions. Well, let’s say to use nuclear weapons. I know for sure that Ukraine would be very happy if Russia or we used tactical nuclear weapons there. They will applaud it. Then, probably, we would hardly have allies left. In general, there would be no even sympathetic countries left.” https://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-want-russia-use-nuclear-weapons/5865660
Moon of Alabama, Britain Claims To Have Helped With The Ukrainian Invasion Of Russia
The Times in London claims that it largely followed a British plan (archived):
When footage of British Challenger 2 battle tanks being used by the Ukrainian army for its counterinvasion of Russia emerged on Tuesday, Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence were ready. For the previous 48 hours, officials and political aides working for Sir Keir Starmer and John Healey, the defence secretary, had been in talks about how far to go to confirm growing British involvement in the incursion towards Kursk.
The stakes were high. Unseen by the world, British equipment, including drones, have played a central role in Ukraine’s new offensive and British personnel have been closely advising the Ukrainian military for two years, on a scale matched by no other country.
The U.S., in contrast, has claimed not to have known about the Ukrainian plans and there purpose. This leads Kit Klarenberg to develop a theory: " I speculated earlier was probably Britain behind Kursk suicide op. Lo and behold, a Times article confirms this. More broadly, contents amply underline Kursk latest effort by London to keep the US in the proxy war - and it appears Washington has finally had enough of this." https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/08/britain-claims-to-have-helped-with-the-ukrainian-invasion-of-russia.html#more
Andrew Korybko, Ukraine Reportedly Has a Whopping 120,000 Troops Deployed Along Its Border with Belarus
Lukashenko said that this was the reason that Ukraine shared for its military buildup along their frontier, which he blamed on the US maliciously feeding them false intelligence about his side’s intentions. If Ukraine has no secret plans to invade Belarus and is confident in what Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper reported earlier this year about how NATO would conventionally intervene in Ukraine’s support if Belarus invades, then it might soon begin redeploying some of these troops to those other fronts.
That can’t be taken for granted though, but in any case, the point is that Ukraine still has a whopping 120,000 troops that haven’t yet begun to fight. This means that Russia mustn’t let its guard down in Bryansk or Belgorod Regions, nor must it assume that a breakthrough in Donbass and Kursk is inevitable due to Ukraine’s supposedly imminent military collapse there. It should also remain prepared for the possibility of a Ukrainian sneak attack against Belarus. https://www.globalresearch.ca/ukraine-120000-troops-border-belarus/5865666
But the stock market is buoyant... US Leading Economic Indicators Plunge For 29th Month - Worse Than COVID Lockdowns https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/us-leading-economic-indicators-plunge-29th-month-worse-covid-lockdowns
Peter McCullough MD, BREAKING PUBLICATION--COVID-19 Vaccines Cause far More Myocarditis than Infection, Overall Risks Greatly Outweigh Theoretical Benefits
Reiterates Global Moratorium on Mass Vaccination Campaign https://petermcculloughmd.substack.com/p/breaking-publication-covid-19-vaccines-998German researchers found children ages 5-11 who received two doses of Pfizer’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine had heightened levels of a type of antibody suggestive of an altered immune system response one year after vaccination, a new peer-reviewed study revealed...
..The team of German researchers, led by Dr. Robin Kobbe with the Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, looked at blood samples of 14 healthy children the day the children received dose one of Pfizer’s shot, one month afterward and one year after the children received dose two.
A year after the second dose, they found increased levels of IgG4 antibodies in the children’s blood, suggesting that their immune system switched its type of immune system response.
IgG4 is one of the four subclasses of immunoglobin, or antibodies, produced by plasma cells in the blood...
A year after the second dose, they found increased levels of IgG4 antibodies in the children’s blood, suggesting that their immune system switched its type of immune system response.
IgG4 is one of the four subclasses of immunoglobin, or antibodies, produced by plasma cells in the blood...
..“IgG4 competes with other antibody (sub)classes for binding to tumour antigens and owing to its anti-inflammatory properties blocks the induction of antitumour immune responses …
”In the absence of an immune response, tumour cells have increased ability to proliferate and metastasize, resulting in disease progression and decreased survival. Immune evasion through class-switching to IgG4 has been observed in patients with melanoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.”
A 2022 study found that individuals with IgG4-related disease appeared to have a higher risk of cancer — especially pancreatic cancer and lymphoma — compared with the general population. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/kids-pfizer-mrna-covid-vaccines-altered-immune-systems-year-later/
”In the absence of an immune response, tumour cells have increased ability to proliferate and metastasize, resulting in disease progression and decreased survival. Immune evasion through class-switching to IgG4 has been observed in patients with melanoma, cholangiocarcinoma, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.”
A 2022 study found that individuals with IgG4-related disease appeared to have a higher risk of cancer — especially pancreatic cancer and lymphoma — compared with the general population. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/kids-pfizer-mrna-covid-vaccines-altered-immune-systems-year-later/
A bombshell study, which is being widely censored by the corporate media and Big Tech, warns that Covid mRNA shots alter the DNA of recipients and their offspring.
Renowned cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough has been attempting to raise the alarm about the study on social media. https://slaynews.com/news/censored-study-covid-shots-permanently-alter-dna-vaxxed-offspring/
That study: Intracellular Reverse Transcription of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 In Vitro in Human Liver Cell Line
Renowned cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough has been attempting to raise the alarm about the study on social media. https://slaynews.com/news/censored-study-covid-shots-permanently-alter-dna-vaxxed-offspring/
Abstract: Preclinical studies of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, showed reversible hepatic effects in animals that received the BNT162b2 injection. Furthermore, a recent study showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be reverse-transcribed and integrated into the genome of human cells. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8946961/
The Lancet paper claimed 20M lives have been saved by the COVID shots. Two data sources (both in public view for years) show the shots were all downside risk. https://kirschsubstack.com/p/more-evidence-that-the-covid-shots
Peter McCullough MD, Gain-of-Function Mutation Discovered in Monkeypox Virus, May Explain Human Outbreak in 2022, WHO Declares Emergency in 2024
Mutation L108F in MPXV is a ‘gain-of-function’ mutation, which most likely enhances processivity, changes sensitivity to nucleoside inhibitors, and fidelity of DNA synthesis.
President Biden and HHS Secretary Becerra declared a US Monkeypox Public Health Emergency in 2022 and let the declaration expire early in 2023. The crisis conjured up little fear for the average American as it was learned that the infection was largely a pustular rash that occurred with intense sexual contact among gay/bisexual men with the skin blisters around the anus and buttocks or mouth. https://petermcculloughmd.substack.com/p/gain-of-function-mutation-discoveredNot Taking Bait (pictured harvesting Texas heirloom okra)
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