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/