Where Do We Go From Here?

 

From Diana--

The horrific violation of the Israeli-Hamas so-called ceasefire by the Israeli government last week continues, initially killing at least 400 Palestinians, at least half women and children, in Gaza. Recent news (Breakthrough News, U-Tube) revealed that aside from the bombings, ground incursions have also begun by the IDF into both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The slaughter of civilians and continued privation of food, water, and destruction of necessary infrastructure have resumed in full force. It is clear that the mewlings of the current US Administration regarding peace at the time Donald Trump assumed his role as Commander in Chief, were a sham, similar to the occasional regrets expressed by the Bibi Biden and Bibi Blinken Administration (so named by Ralph Nader) regarding the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians, without any change in the ongoing process funded mostly  by the United States.  Presently Trump has also launched an all-out assault on Yemen for their blockade of Red Sea shipping in support of Palestinian rights. 

    Recent history, even before the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, has indicated that the Israeli government has had a plan for Palestine and its inhabitants. Those of you who watched the recent Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," may have noted that initially the area in the West Bank inhabited for generatiions by Palestinians, was subject to a (ultimately revealed) phoney judgment stating that the IDF (Israeli Army) was given the land to use as army training ground. The IDF proceeded to level homes on a regular basis, forcing inhabitants to rebuild or move to caves. By the end of the filming, which predated October 7, the Israeli forces had begun to destroy not just homes, but also infrastructure necessary for any civil society, which included pouring concrete down wells and demolishing the school that the community had built. This appeared to be a prototype demolition which was then perfected in Gaza, with destruction of all the underpinnings of civil society including not only homes but clean water, sewage treatment, schools, and medical facilities. 

    This week we learned that the Palestinian director of "No Other Land," Hamdan Ballal, was attacked and beaten by settlers and then seized by the Israeli military. He was released to a hospital only after an international outcry.

    The exact number of dead Palestinians is unknown, but clearly exceeds the approximately 50,000 reported; indeed, Ralph Nader has reported that his estimate may be at least 250,000 once the debris is cleared and remains of bodies are identified. 

    It is patently clear that neither the United States nor Israel has any intention of halting the carnage. Peter Beinart (Jewish Chronicle) in a recent interview noted that he felt that the plan for Palestine may well be similar to the ethnic cleansing that the United States subjected the members of the First Nation to, which was to reduce their numbers to an amount that could then be herded onto reservations. 
    

    Amazingly, despite the lack of significant change in policies of either country, our numbers have grown exponentially every week with frequent additions of various persons of all ages and backgrounds who understand that our constant presence indicates the growing support for an end to the savagery that our government has been sponsoring. These comrades give all of us inspiration and a reason to continue organizing and fighting in whatever way we each can.The most hopeful sign is that attitudes throughout the country have been changing; the support for Israel, despite its propaganda and vicious attacks on students, universities and individuals has now dropped to less than 50%, and that support for a permanent ceasefire has been well above 50% and has been growing.

    All of us also need to practice self-care in whatever way possible to prevent burnout and be able to maintain clear thinking: take a walk, meet with a friend or loved one, see a movie but please take a break from the news to nurture yourself. Work with a local organization where you can actually do something tangible like a food bank or an animal shelter; even a few hours away from the news can recharge you.

    Lastly, I would like to share some of the alternative media that I access regularly, most of which are on podcasts: Ralph Nader radio hour, Alternative Radio (David Barsamian, who has had everyone knowledgable about the Mid-East on his show and you can easily access PDFs or CDs of the programs: Norman Finkelstein, Vijay Prashad, Naom Chomsky, Ilan Pappe, Miko Peled, and more (go on line for the list). Breakthrough News on U-Tube, The Socialist Program, Democracy Now!, Law and Disorder Radio program, The Gray Zone with Max Blumenthal, Electronic Intifada, Mondoweiss, and Al Jazeera English (also on U-Tube).

    So where do we go from here? Since 10/7/2023 New Paltz Women in Black for Peace and Justice have held a vigil every Saturday to bear witness to the injustices being perpetrated in our name. We demand an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and an arms embargo against Israel--without the U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, Israel could not carry out this genocide. We will continue until the Palestinian people have peace--and justice. JOIN US!

Genocides of the Last Century

The genocides of the last century have all had their official beginnings. For example, the "Final Solution" was officially implemented when Goring was appointed to head it on July 31, 1939. But he was really following a Nazi directive signed in January of that year which called for the "emigration and evacuation in the best possible way" of all Jews under German control. And all this planning was done after the establishment of concentration camps, most during the late 1930s. In fact, both the German Gestapo and Dachau concentration camp were formed back in 1933.

The extermination of the Palestinian People can be seen as commencing with this most recent mass murder in Gaza called Operation Swords of Iron. But it too has had several several starting points. The current genocide in Gaza was preceded by several other savage attacks by the Israeli Defense Force starting in 2006. Each has been more catastrophic than the last, with an ever widening bombing of schools, hospitals, and residential areas. Military action to murder the Palestinians in this open air prison has been fair game for almost two decades.  

At the end of genocide comes a recognition of how human beings can be goaded into becoming monsters. Many even celebrate the bloodletting with a deadly mixture of nationalism, religion, greed and hate. "The only good Indian is a dead Indian."

The American genocide of the Palestinian people will be remembered as the monstrous deed that ultimately undid our bloodthirsty empire.

Fred Nagel

Hedging on genocide

At the Irish Echo-supported HEAL Palestine fundraiser on Feb. 26, many longtime supporters of Irish freedom were there.

Of course, our community supports Palestine. Our histories overlap so closely. But as we’ve gained a foothold in New York politics, our values haven’t come with us.

Politicians to whom New York Irish activists, and the Irish Echo, are closely connected, are hedging on genocide.

There’s no room for hedging. Israel is bombing hospitals to get rid of evidence. Israel is torturing and killing doctors to keep "professional" testimony from reaching world bodies (ICC International Criminal Court, ICJ International Court of Justice, UN United Nations). Israel bans foreign journalists’ entry and kills journalists in Palestine (170 plus media workers killed) to prevent reporting. Israel is bombing schools and every university to erase knowledge and history. Israel and the United States are committing genocide and the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

We as Irish Irish/Americans know well that framing starvation, scholasticide, genocide, and colonialism as a “civilizing mission” or “defense against terror” is how empires explain away their mass killings, theft of land, and efforts to erase us.

When we see the destruction in Hamad City, Gaza we know it as the Lough Sheelin eviction. When we see Israel preventing the burial of the dead, we remember Milltown Cemetery and Crossmaglen.  Uprooting people, displacing them, starving them, creating famine, criminalizing their identity - we know this playbook. In this season and time, celebrating Irishness means standing with those resisting.

John Francis Mulligan

ADL’s war on socially conscious investing

The ADL’s war on socially conscious investing is in service to Israel and the new oligarchy.

By Felice Gelman March 17, 2025 4

Early this year investment research firm Morningstar caved to a multi-year ADL pressure campaign and exempted Israel from its socially responsible investing ratings. This success in exempting Israel from investor accountability is just the beginning. 

In late February, just in time for its annual “Never is Now” conference, the ADL announced it had created an exchange traded fund (ETF), stock symbol TOV, so people could invest according to “Jewish values.” However, it will likely not surprise you that TOV, Hebrew for good, it turns out is not so tov.

The fund’s “Jewish Values” include investments in the major oil companies, the major defense contractors, and surveillance and spyware specialists like Palantir and Crowdstrike. In fact, the only S&P 500 companies excluded from TOV are two tobacco companies, a company that mines tar sands, and General Mills because that company sold its stake in a Jerusalem-based subsidiary. (see below for the full article)

https://mondoweiss.net/2025/03/the-adls-war-on-socially-conscious-investing-is-in-service-to-israel-and-the-new-oligarchy/

Did God Give the Land to the Jews?

Israel's most basic pretext for its colonization and ethnic cleansing of Palestine is that God gave the land to the ancient Hebrews, therefore today's Jews have exclusive right to it. Israel apologists often cite scripture to support this claim: in Genesis 17:8 God tells Abraham, "As an everlasting possession I will give you and your descendants...the land in which you now are aliens, all the land of Canaan." (For clarity, all citations are from The New English Bible). Conveniently, Zionists omit the next verse, in which God tells Abraham, "For your part, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you..." 

 

Thus, the land grant was conditional, based on the Hebrews keeping God's commandments such as "Administer true justice, show loyalty and compassion to one another, do not oppress the orphan and the widow, the alien and the poor, do not contrive any evil, one against another." (Zechariah 7:9-11). Nevertheless, the Hebrews incessantly violated God's conditions, so God punished them: "An enemy shall surround the land; your stronghold shall be thrown down and your palaces sacked" (Amos 3:11). "...and I will drive you into exile beyond Damascus." (Amos 5:27). 

 

The result was foreign invasions resulting in permanent loss of the land through the Roman conquest of Jerusalem in 63 B.C. The claim, therefore, that God gave the land to the Jews is a half-truth omitting the conditions of the land grant and the Hebrews' violations thereof. Nevertheless, many of today's Zionists claim divine right to the land while continuing to break God’s commandments by stealing ever more Palestinian land, destroying Palestinian homes and livelihoods, and crushing Palestinian resistance.


By Gregory De Sylva

Singing, speaking, chanting

Dear ones,
Today, New Paltz Women In Black stood peacefully  in solidarity with the people of Palestine.  Standing in the cold with snowflakes drifting by, we spoke our truth and witnessed for the unspeakable atrocities being perpetrated upon an  innocent civilian population.  Israel has lost militarily (to Hamas,  to Hezbollah, and to the Houthis), economically (42,000 business closures & Israelis with means fleeing the country to places like Thailand), and lost morally and spiritually (the utter depravity, racism, and arrogance on full display).  

 

The Zionist entity is bankrupt on every front and the entire world can see it live-streamed.  Literally,  the only option left to Israel is to continue to slaughter defenseless civilians in Gaza and the West Bank with funds and weaponry from the US.  The State of Israel is doomed.  It’s only a matter of time before it collapses.  Unfortunately, many innocents will die gruesome deaths and endure heartbreaking suffering as Israel implodes.  There are very powerful forces in the US who are trying to suppress these truths and inhibit free speech that criticizes Israel,  but they will not succeed in silencing those who speak the truth.  Hope you are all well and hope to see you on the streets. 

 

Today’s gathering  included singing, speaking, chanting, and connecting with other peace loving members of the community.  This  WIB event was a heart warming reminder of what it means to be human.  Much love and gratitude to all who attended.  
With  peace and love always,
Eli

From Robb--

I write this during a pause in the massive destruction, during the second temporary (quasi) ceasefire imposed on Israel. The pause gives some time to reflect on what the last 15 months have created; for Palestine, for me, for us as a group Identifying as Women in Black pro-Palestinian vigilers.

I count myself fortunate to have been living in the New Paltz area in October of 2023, fortunate because of Women in Black. At that time I had just recently been dispossessed of my home, my cabinetry work shop, my gardens, all of which I had created from nothing only to have it seized by the duplicitous property-owner. When Israel Initiated its assault to destroy Gaza, I as a long-suffering friend of dispossessed Palestinian olive farmers in the West Bank began feeling demoralized, as if I were alone in the world with my despair. It was a tremendous relief and joy to join with all of you, to be with people whose hearts were open to pursue justice, peace, compassion, love. Through these months and months of unfolding destruction and dehumanizing cruelty being leveled on Gaza, I have been buoyed by the unwavering faithfulness of our group here on the sidewalk. I am very grateful for the many Jewish persons among us who stand in opposition to the defiling of their faith as perpetrated by the State of Israel. I see the willingness to seek truth and love, regardless of the consequences, that permeates our ranks. I am grateful to be part of this. I look upon us as prophets, or at least emissaries of prophecy. As such we are perceived as out of the norm: strange, different, queer. But we have persisted.

Now, In Gaza, after fifteen months withstanding assaults, Palestinians by the hundreds of thousands, mostly traveling by foot, are allowed to pass through the Netsayim corridor. They return home, past razed earth and destroyed building rubble to their homes of destroyed rubble, to their schools and hospitals and water treatment plants and sanitation plants and mosques of destroyed rubble. They go in jubilant resistance, returning to set up tents of survival. But how will survival be possible when they are still the sacrificial lambs of both Israel and the U.S.?

During these 15 months of mass destruction the Biden Administration and now Trump have paved the way for enormous weapons sales to Israel. Illegal Israelisettlement through displacement of Palestinians skyrocketed in the West Bank under cover of the Gaza genocide. Donald Trump has the 100 million dollar contribution from Miriam Adelson to pay back with his pledge of allowing Israel to annex the West Bank. He also seems intent to keep on his side the powerful American Christian Nationalists who support the Greater Israel concept. Everything seems stacked against a free, liberated Palestine.

Only the world’s outrage at Israel’s brutality seems to impose any resistance. We will continue to stand in support of Palestinians' right to return to their homes; their right to freedom of movement and equal rights, whether they live in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, or Israel; and their human rights to food, shelter, medical care, and education as a free and proud people.

Will we be able to see clearly, what one amongst us (Alejandro, as I recall) said as he addressed us after a vigil: “that the liberation of these people is a liberation of all of us”?
Salaam alaikum.

Join us!