We are heading out of the country once again. I would like to do these Updates weekly, but the next one will likely be in early August.
I had a great Update ready to go, but accidently deleted the draft!!!
In the interim here's what I recall.--------
Celebrating because Meta expanded hate speech policy to remove more posts targeting 'Zionists,' but then I read about their removal of the ban on the word "Shaheed" and their process...https://www.camera.org/article/the-bias-of-metas-oversight-board/
So disappointed in Disney/Marvel. They changed the character, Sabra (an Israeli character that first appeared in Incredible Hulk #250 (August 1980) in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World movie. Marvel Studios have stripped a Jewish character of her Israeli identity, see also https://honestreporting.com/marvel-has-a-long-history-of-misleading-fans-by-erasing-jewish-characters/
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FRANCE
Erasure means to ignore, sideline or delegitimize the experiences of a group of people,
The memorial ceremony for victims of the 1972 Munich Olympics terror attack at the upcoming Paris Games will be held in a secret location outside of the Olympic VillageAdidas choose a Palestinian, Bella Hadid, to model a shoe symbolizing the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were massacred by a Palestinian terrorist organization. Seems like they're celebrating the terrorists
The Council of American-Islamic Relations has recommended that the International Olympic Committee ban Israeli athletes from participation in the upcoming Olympic Games.IRAN
The U.S. director of national intelligence says Iran is influencing and funding Gaza war protests https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-director-national-intelligence-says-190554574.html
Iran's Foreign Minister Kani directly threatened Israel. He admitted Iran’s proxies are fighting Israel. Israel has the right and obligation to protect its families from Iran and its terrorist proxies.
IRAQ & SYRIA
Islamic State Attacks On Track To Double In Iraq and Syria Compared To Last Year, U.S. Military Says https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-islamic-state-us-centcom-attacks-53bdb45048b8f1389d9181b359e8260d
ISRAEL
Jerusalem Youth Choir, made up of Israelis and Palestinians, advance through the audition round of "America’s Got Talent" after singing "Home"
October 7 Footage Helps the IDF Kill Nukhba Terrorists (Jerusalem Post) The IDF is working to target and eliminate the terrorists involved in the Oct. 7 massacre who are still operating in Gaza.
LEBANON
Hezbollah again launched around 100 rockets into Israel in a single day, causing damage throughout northern Israel.
CIA head says Hamas’s Sinwar under growing pressure from his own commanders to end war https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/16/politics/cia-director-hamas-gaza-war/index.html
Harvard reverses suspension of five student protesters https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/7/10/harvard-reverses-encampment-suspensions/
ICC Report Expected Friday RE: Judea & Samaria aka West Bank
Sweeping ICC Sanctions Bill Would Harm Victims, U.S. Interests
- In May, the International Criminal Court announced applications for warrants for the arrests of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister, Yoav Gallant. As someone who has visited the frontlines in this war, and who has written about, visited, and engaged in various urban battles over the past two decades as a U.S. Army officer and researcher, I believe the ICC's decision is wrong about Israel.
- Worse, the ruling could perversely have the opposite effect intended: By holding all states to such a high standard when it comes to avoiding civilian harm, governments may feel hamstrung to respond to attacks in the future, even in self-defense. That could have a chilling effect on countries that adhere to international legal norms, while providing a bonanza for rogue states like Russia or nonstate actors like Hamas that ignore these norms.
- In Gaza, the terrain, the density of tunnels under population centers, the nature of the enemy, and the presence of hostages all combine to make this war an exceptionally fraught one for Israel to fight bloodlessly. What I saw in Gaza convinced me that Israel has taken the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties. As the war continues, Israel continues to announce temporary evacuations instructing civilians to move out of harm's way. Israel has gone above and beyond what is traditionally required of armies.
- The ICC has accused Israel of "starvation of civilians as a method of warfare," and "intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population." This kind of accusation ignores mountains of evidence to the contrary which I saw firsthand.
- Israel has implemented almost all the civilian harm mitigation practices required of urban warfare and legal norms spelled out by international humanitarian law (IHL), as well as created a few new ones no military has ever tried. The IDF fields legal officers at the brigade and division level to approve legitimate targets and provide guidance to avoid civilian casualties and violations of IHL.
- The ICC ruling makes a mockery out of Article 51 of the UN Charter, which allows countries to act in self-defense. If any country takes all these precautions and is still considered beyond the pale of modern war, can any country that tries to adhere to international humanitarian legal norms fight wars at all, even to defend themselves?
- By singling out the Israeli leadership for war crimes, the result could be a blank check to rogue actors like Hamas as well as rogue states like Russia, Iran, or North Korea. The IDF should be commended for its efforts to reduce civilian harm, not charged in an international court alongside Hamas leaders.
Labour set to reverse pro-Israel stance on ICC
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Guardian again promotes disproven 'starvation' propaganda https://camera-uk.org/2024/07/10/guardian-again-promotes-disproven-starvation-propaganda/ and https://honestreporting.com/medias-casualty-is-the-truth-as-it-spreads-three-damaging-lies-about-gaza/ |
