Israel 6/30/2026

 

                                                              Israel

The West Bank territory was seized by Israel following the 1967 war, initially held to protect Israelis from another conflict. However, the decision by previous Likud governments to permit Israeli settlements in the West Bank has set the stage for the ongoing conflict today. Palestinians have a legal right to their homes, farms, and businesses. Any long-term resolution to the conflict in the region must reflect the rights of Palestinians to live in their homes and go about their lives peacefully.

The settler terrorism in the West Bank and Gaza, funded and supported by America, is likely to cost Biden the election. The U.S. news media tries to cover up the disaster, rarely mentioning it as a factor in Biden's loss of support in mainstream outlets. However, young people and people of color see through this and may not vote in large numbers in the upcoming election. These are the groups Biden needs to win, which is why he must consider stepping aside.

Nick Kristof of the New York Times is one of the few reporters who keeps the spotlight on the West Bank and Gaza. Highlighting the human tragedies occurring in all directions is of utmost importance. Americans, in particular, need your balanced reporting on the realities in this region. Human rights and basic human dignity cannot be reserved for some and denied to others. The U.S. has failed in exercising leadership to neutralize far-right fanaticism in all directions. Mr. Trump could not even bring himself to acknowledge a two-state solution during the recent debate. May all Israelis and Palestinians of goodwill advance the call for justice and peace. Force is not the solution, and hatred can have a multi-generational impact.

Relegating Palestinians to become second-class citizens in their own land, much like apartheid South Africa, is not the answer. If Biden is too timid to stand up to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s acts of terrorism, he should step aside. Supplying Israel with more weapons makes us complicit in Israel’s ongoing genocide. We must demand an immediate cease-fire and resumption of crucial aid to halt the mass starvation of civilians.

Gender apartheid in Islam 6/29/2024

 

                                                  Gender apartheid in Islam

The United States spent decades in Afghanistan, spending billions, only to leave the situation for women far worse than before. It’s time for women around the world to be liberated from the imposition of archaic rules and customs, such as the mandatory hijab in Iran and the severe lack of women's rights in Afghanistan and throughout the Muslim world. The United Nations should convene a meeting to encourage Islam to modernize its faith.

Women worldwide should displace men in key government positions to bring order and sanity, correcting the mess men have created. This approach aligns with a simple Persian prayer: "I praise the thought well thought, the word well spoken, and the deed well done." It is worth noting that the founder of the Sikh faith was a pioneer of women's rights.

When the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in August 2021, they initially suspended education for girls above the sixth grade until conditions were deemed suitable under Islamic rules. Now, over 1,000 days later, school remains off-limits for girls older than 12, and restrictions have extended to universities. The Taliban claim education is an "internal matter," leaving the future of girls' education uncertain.

Denial of education is only one of many Taliban decrees against women. Female civil servants were instructed not to report to work, and women are now barred from working at NGOs and humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations. Many female-owned businesses, such as beauty salons, have been shuttered. Women and girls must be accompanied by a male relative to travel.

As a result, women and girls have been virtually erased from public life, deprived of their most basic rights. Afghan women began describing the Taliban’s policies as gender apartheid in the 1990s, and there is a growing call to criminalize such policies under international law.

The Taliban’s institutionalized oppression is devastating not only for the current generation of Afghan women and girls but also for future generations. Boys, raised in a system that dehumanizes women, may follow their leaders’ example and continue to mistreat women, becoming vulnerable to radicalization, which poses security concerns beyond Afghanistan’s borders. The Taliban's gender policies also severely deprive LGBTQ individuals of their fundamental rights.

Despite these oppressive conditions, Afghan women and girls are resisting. Some have protested in the streets, risking arrest and violence. Girls with internet access, a minority, are taking online classes, and female entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to circumvent restrictions.

It would be easy to leave these women to struggle alone, claiming that the international community has done enough damage in Afghanistan. But that would be a grave disservice to both the defiant women and those without the economic capacity to fight back. We have an obligation to meet their bravery with increased protection, support, and solidarity.

The upcoming meeting in Doha, Qatar, will discuss a political path forward for Afghanistan. The agenda, however, focuses on fighting narcotics and helping the private sector, excluding human rights and women's issues. If these exclusions are the price of the Taliban’s presence in Doha, the cost is too high.

The international community must insist on reversing the restriction of Afghan women’s and girls’ rights, ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making, and holding the Taliban accountable. Having these issues explicitly on the agenda in Doha would be an important first step.

The bravery, dignity, and perseverance of millions of Afghans in the face of gross injustice must be matched by strong, principled, and effective international leadership.

Letter to President Biden 6/14/2024

                                                    Letter to President Biden

Dear President Biden,

Subject: Urgent Appeal for Ceasefire in Gaza: Protect the Innocent Children Shame on Israel and the United States for continuing to violate their sacred texts. Children in Gaza continue to die of hunger. On Thursday, the World Health Organization confirmed 32 deaths from malnutrition — most of whom were children under 5. UNICEF reported nearly 3,000 children in southern Gaza have been cut off from treatment for moderate and severe acute malnutrition, putting them at risk of death.

Meanwhile, the U.N. reports that violence against children caught in armed conflict last year reached “extreme levels,” with a 21% increase in severe violations. The surge in violence occurred amid Israel’s relentless assault on the Gaza Strip — now in its ninth month.

Overnight, Israeli forces pushed deeper into the Shaboura refugee camp in southern Gaza. Elsewhere, one person was killed, and three children were wounded after Israel bombed a home in the Bureij refugee camp. Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza City killed at least 14 people. Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least three Palestinians in overnight raids in the West Bank.

What profits Israel when they starve and murder innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, especially children? They lose their very soul, aided and abetted by an aging President of America who feigns concern but continues to send $1 billion to kill more civilians. This is not self-defense but horrific genocide.

Jewish law (Halacha) emphasizes the protection of children from harm. The Talmud contains numerous references to the responsibility of parents and the community to ensure children's safety and well-being. Children are seen as valuable and innocent beings deserving of protection and care.

In summary, the Abrahamic religions share a profound commitment to the rights and safety of children. Christianity also places significant emphasis on the rights and protection of children, drawing from teachings of Jesus and other Biblical texts: Innocence and Value: Jesus highlighted the importance of children, saying, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).

Mr. President, killing and starving thousands of children is not self-defense. Please pick up the phone and order an immediate ceasefire, failing which no more weapons should be sent. Finally, end the occupation demanding equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.

A recent U.N. report 6/13/2024

                                                     A recent U.N. report

Mr. President, one call could end the violence in Gaza A recent U.N. report has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during its eight-month assault on Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 37,000, including over 15,000 children. Senior Palestinian diplomat Majed Bamya emphasized that peace in the region is only achievable by ending the occupation and establishing two states living side by side.

The U.N. Security Council has endorsed a ceasefire and hostage deal supported by the U.S., but Israeli leaders have yet to publicly commit to it. While Hamas has welcomed the proposal, Israeli officials have not made any definitive statements, raising concerns that the conflict may continue.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, highlighted that 8,000 Palestinian children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The WHO reports that the most needy are not receiving sufficient aid.

Bamya reiterated the Palestinian call for a ceasefire to end the violence, address humanitarian needs, and reunite families separated by the conflict.

A new U.N. report also accuses both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes, with Israel accused of using starvation as a weapon and Hamas of targeting civilians with indiscriminate attacks. Bamya stressed that upholding international law and ensuring accountability are crucial for ending the conflict and achieving peace.

Bamya concluded by highlighting the need for consistent international outrage against all forms of violence and for recognizing Palestine as a state to support a two-state solution. He emphasized that ending the killing and ensuring accountability for all parties involved is paramount. It is time President Biden breaks his long silence and demands a ceasefire and an end to supplying weapons to Israel, which the IDF has used to slaughter and starve civilians. Finally, we as a nation must demand an end to the vicious and cruel occupation, the root cause of the conflict, which has been supported by the U.S. since 1948.

Palestinian Journalists die, IDF lies, Biden sighs

                                 Palestinian Journalists die, IDF lies, Biden sighs 

The recent findings of the Gaza Project, a collaborative investigation led by the nonprofit groupForbidden Stories, have highlighted the alarming and unprecedented targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Gaza has now become the deadliest place on Earth for journalists, with as many as 140 journalists and media workers killed since October, according to the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate.

This figure represents a staggering 10% of the journalists in Gaza.
The Gaza Project's investigation, which involved 50 journalists from 13
different news organizations, reveals that at least 40 journalists were
killed while in their homes, 14 were wearing press vests when attacked by
the Israeli army, and 18 were killed, injured, or allegedly targeted by
drones. The investigation also documented the targeting of the Agence
France-Presse's Gaza bureau and the killing of Bilal Jadallah, the founder
of Press House-Palestine, a landmark media organization in Gaza.
Hoda Osman, a journalist and executive editor of Arab Reporters for
Investigative Journalism, emphasized the scale of these deaths as
"unprecedented" and not a "natural result" of wartime conflict. She stresses
that this situation should be a crisis for journalists worldwide,
highlighting the systematic nature of these attacks on journalists in Gaza
and the West Bank.
The Gaza Project's detailed investigation showcases a series of targeted
attacks on journalists and media offices, including direct firing by Israeli
tanks on AFP offices and the complete destruction of Press House. These
findings push back against Israeli claims that journalists have not been
targeted and call for a global outcry and action to protect journalists in
conflict zones.
The plight of the surviving journalists in Gaza is also dire. Many have been
displaced multiple times, lost family members, homes, jobs, and essential
reporting equipment. With no foreign journalists allowed into Gaza, these
local journalists continue to report under perilous conditions, often
becoming the story themselves.
In summary, the Gaza Project sheds light on the targeted violence against
journalists in Gaza, urging the global community to recognize and address
this critical issue.

GAZA 6/28/2024

 

                                                               GAZA

The Gaza Project, led by Forbidden Stories, has revealed the unprecedented targeting of Palestinian journalists. Gaza is now the deadliest place for journalists in the world, with 140 killed since October. Findings show that at least 40 were killed at home, 14 while wearing press vests, and 18 targeted by drones. The Agence France-Presse’s Gaza bureau was also attacked, and Bilal Jadallah, founder of Press House-Palestine, was killed.

Hoda Osman, of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, emphasized that these deaths are not a "natural result" of conflict but a systematic attack, calling it a crisis for journalists in Gaza. The surviving journalists face dire conditions, with many displaced, losing family members, homes, jobs, and essential equipment. This investigation demands a global response to protect journalists in Gaza. Israel continues to maintain tight control over the news to ensure that the massive war crimes committed by its IDF do not reach weapons suppliers like the United States.

Gaza's Tragic Toll and International Complicity 6/28/2024

                                     Gaza's Tragic Toll and International Complicity

 Another shameful chapter has emerged, highlighting the ongoing genocide supported by Israel's allies. The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted 269-144 to ban the State Department from citing death toll figures provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health. This decision stifles crucial information about the human cost of the conflict.

Before the vote, Congress's lone Palestinian American lawmaker, Democrat Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, read into the Congressional Record the harrowing toll of Palestinians killed during Israel's assault on Gaza: over 37,700 dead, including 15,000 children. This tragedy, funded by U.S. taxpayers, continues with fresh attacks. Just today, Israeli forces bombed al-Mawasi, killing at least 11 Palestinians and wounding 40 others. Gaza’s Civil Defense agency reported that three medics were killed, and a dozen others wounded while searching for survivors in the Bureij refugee camp.

The suffering is compounded by Israeli authorities barring many Palestinians from leaving Gaza for medical treatment. Kamela Abu Kwaik, mother to a 5-year-old cancer patient, poignantly questioned, “Why is there suffering like this? Are people’s hearts blind? Is it OK for them to see us suffering like this?”

In addition to the devastation in Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant threatened to bomb Lebanon "back to the Stone Age" unless Hezbollah halts cross-border attacks. This aggressive stance comes as the Biden administration defends its rapid arms shipments to Israel, totaling $6.5 billion since last October. Peace activists, including CodePink, have condemned Gallant, labeling him a war criminal for his role in the genocide of Palestinians.

Congresswoman Tlaib emphasized that Palestinians are not mere statistics: "Behind these numbers are real people — mothers, fathers, sons, daughters — who have had their lives stolen from them and their families torn apart. We should not be trying to hide it. These are innocent children and babies who have been bombed in their tents, burned alive, dismembered, and deliberately starved to death. This is genocide denial."

The U.S. military's involvement in both the exploitation of Hawaiian lands and the conflict in Gaza has not gone unnoticed. Rose Elovitz from Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaiʻi highlighted the direct connection, stating, "Palestine is a weapon testing ground for Israeli weapons exported worldwide, just as Hawaii is a testing ground for U.S. weapons and trainings. The bombs tested in the sacred Mākua Valley are the same bombs dropped in Gaza."

It is imperative for us to recognize the shared humanity of all people and condemn the atrocities being committed. Silence and complicity only perpetuate the suffering of the innocent.

It is tragic that the starving emaciated bodies of children are resembling the Jewish children during the Holocaust.