#Apartheid / What if Israeli TV starts telling its viewers the truth…?
Arad Nir, head of the foreign news desk and international commentator for Channel 12 News tweeted back at (anti democratic) #Smotrich, who demanded of #Schumer that "the great democracy of the world is expected to respect Israeli democracy":
“Even apartheid South Africa was a democracy in its own eyes - of whites who voted and chose racial segregation by majority rule. It had a weapons industry, atomic bombs, a skilled air force, and powerful allies. But the crippling sanctions supported by the United States in order to back the popular uprising crushed the thriving economy and the remarkable military.” https://twitter.com/arad_nir/status/1768549921479708676
🇯🇵 "Finally, I will attempt to shed light on the historical forces and scenarios that might return Japanese ultranationalists to the center of political influence and power in the Japanese state and overturn Japan’s postwar pacifist constitution and noninterventionist military foreign policy."
🇯🇵 " Finally, I will attempt to shed light on the historical forces and scenarios that might return Japanese ultranationalists to the center of political influence and power in the Japanese state and overturn Japan’s postwar pacifist constitution and noninterventionist military foreign policy."
#Israel / 20,000 people protested against the government in Kaplan.
Former head of Military Intelligence Directorate: "Advancing the elections will have a price - but the price of this messianic government remaining will be much higher"
#Israel / High Court is hearing petitions challenging the military exemption for ultra-Orthodox #yeshiva students
This is a contentious issue that has sparked mass protests outside the court in Jerusalem. The "Movement for Quality Government", joined by "Brothers and Sisters in Arms" and 240 citizens, petitioned the court, arguing that Defense Minister Yoav #Gallant is illegally exempting tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox youths from military service, defying the law and court rulings. Last week, the state told the High Court of Justice that unless a military draft bill is advanced by April 1, ultra-Orthodox men will be conscripted to the army.
A reminder of the potential consequences of integrating settlers and ultra-Orthodox into the #IDF/#IOF:
[...] The Netzah Yehuda battalion was originally set up to allow ultra-Orthodox Israelis to serve in the military. But over the years, the unit has attracted not only some of the most religious soldiers, but also a growing number of far-right extremists, including many settlers. Unlike other units, enlistment in Netzah Yehuda is voluntary; until recently, it was deployed exclusively in the West Bank, where its members were in daily contact with Palestinians living under occupation. As such, the unit — whose name is an acronym for “Haredi Military Youth” — was known for getting “a lot of action,” the former member said.
[...] The harassment and dehumanization of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation are a daily affair, and Netzah Yehuda soldiers are hardly the only culprits. But on some occasions, the unit’s actions in the West Bank escalated into gross human rights violations and potential war crimes. Since 2015, members of the unit have killed several Palestinians and beaten and tortured others with electric shocks, according to documentation submitted by DAWN to the ICC, which in 2021 opened an investigation into alleged crimes committed in the occupied territories.
#Israel / Ben-Gvir: “lethal force should be used against women and children approaching the fence”
During a cabinet meeting, far-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir clashed with #IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi over rules of engagement along the #Gaza border. Ben-Gvir argued that clear directives were needed to prevent another #Hamas attack, saying lethal force should be used against women and children approaching the fence as potential militants.
The heated exchange reflects tensions between the military and the new right-wing government over policies toward Palestinians, with hawkish ministers pushing for tougher measures and clearly illegal measures, despite warnings from security officials and the international community.
[cont’d] Supreme Court rejected petition against the appointment of Ben Gvir as Minister of National Security.
Justice Amit criticized Ben Gvir's past and current conduct, but emphasized that the minister declared before #Netanyahu and the Court that he has changed his ways, and that Netanyahu has the authority to make decisions based on political considerations.
"The Prime Minister has the authority to consider also political, coalition, and party considerations, within the framework of his decision to appoint a person to the role of minister in his government. The complexity of life in general and political life in particular presents a wide range of possible appointments, including those that clash with the purpose of integrity and public confidence that is required. Therefore, there is room - and even a necessity - to exercise discretion. But this will be done with care, and intervention will be in exceptional cases."
#Israel / Ben Gvir: encouraging Gazans to voluntarily emigrate to places around the world is the real humanitarian thing to do
Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister [convicted for incitement to racism]:
“Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel [to Gaza], which goes to Hamas, [...] If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different.”
#Israel / White supremacist Sweden Democrats meet Israeli Minister in Knesset
[….] On January 29, a delegation of senior members of the far-right Sweden Democrats paid a visit to Israel. Surprisingly, the delegation met a minister in the Israeli parliament, Knesset.
“It is clear that our respective parties, and even nations, have many common core values. Many of our problems are also similar, so there is much to be gained from an exchange of experience and deepened cooperation both at the national and party level.”
#israel / Ministers From Netanyahu's Party Join Thousands of Israelis at 'Resettle Gaza' Conference
[…] During the conference, participants were presented with details of Jewish settlements, maps, and the stages of preparation, along with calls for decision-makers to acknowledge that a war victory can only be claimed through the Jewish resettling of the Gaza Strip.
“We need to go back home and control the territory as well as offer a migration option and impose dead penalty for terrorists”
“We gathered here to tell the world the land of Israel is ours … we’re back”
Labor Party Chairwoman MK Merav Michaeli said: "Netanyahu has brought the abhorrent fringes of Kahanism into the mainstream to lead the State of Israel. The incitement that led to Rabin's murder now threatens to destroy the State of Israel."
Following his participation in the "Resettle Gaza" conference in Jerusalem (among other things https://kolektiva.social/@oatmeal/111861259760886267) Israeli minister Avichai Chikli was dis-invited from a conference organized by the right-wing conservative Israeli and German newspapers Jerusalem Post and Die Welt.