Belgiums Foreign Minister urges swift recognition of Palestine
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India.com
28 minutes ago
- India.com
'Kill and eat the Jews': Cartoon in Gaza incites children to violence against Jews...
'Kill and eat the Jews': Cartoon in Gaza incites children to violence against Jews… Tell Aviv: Israeli soldiers have been fighting in Gaza in response to the October 2023 massacre. Several Hamas terrorists have been hunted down and killed. Several hostages have been released from both sides; however, several Israeli hostages are still in the custody of Hamas. Amid all this, Israel recently announced the complete occupation of Gaza. Meanwhile, a report from the United States has emerged that shocked everyone. The report claims that the seeds of hatred and violence against Jews and Israelis were sown in the minds of children. The report states that children were brainwashed through cartoon shows, which inspired them to kill the Israelis and martyr themselves in war. What Did The Report Say? According to a New York Post report, a children's TV program Tomorrow's Pioneers, which aired in Palestine between 2007 and 2009, has been accused of inciting violence in the minds of children. The TV show incited innocent people to anti-Semitic violence and glorified 'martyrdom'. According to the report, the show aired every Friday on Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV, in which cartoon characters, including a Mickey Mouse-like character named Farfur, gave children the message to 'kill' Israelis, 'fight for Islamic supremacy' and 'liberate' Jerusalem from murderers. As per a report by New York Post, TV program named 'Tomorrow Pioneers', has been accused of inciting violence in children. The cartoon show was aired between 2007 and 2009 in Palestine. This show incited youngsters to anti-Semitic violence and glorified 'martyrdom'. The report stated that. The TV show used to air every Friday on Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV. In the show, mickey mouse like cartoon characters, named Farfur, tell children to 'kill' Israelis, 'fight for Islamic supremacy' and 'liberate' Jerusalem from murderers. 'kill And Eat The Jews' The report states that in one episode, a rabbit character even says, 'I will exterminate the Jews and eat them.' Farfur, the cartoon character, was later shown beaten to death by Israeli soldiers and replaced with a new character. According to Mia Bloom, a professor at Georgia State University, she termed it as 'terrible propaganda' and 'mental abuse of children'. She stated that such type of content deepened the belief in children that all Israelis are bad and should be killed. Bloom stated that this ideological influence has affected the mindset of certain fighters who were involved in the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. She further likened it to the indoctrination methods used by the Taliban and ISIS. TV Show Got Suspended After massive international criticism, in 2009, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti requested the cartoon show should be suspended. However, it continued to air and backed by Al-Aqsa TV chairman Fathi Hammad. Fathi Hammad backed the TV show by saying that it 'does not violate the rules in any way.' He also refused to make any changes to the program.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
GST reforms: CII hails PM Modi's move; calls it a ‘visionary' step for businesses
Representative image The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has hailed the forthcoming reforms to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort. Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of CII, said in a statement, 'On behalf of Indian industry, CII warmly welcomes the Hon'ble Prime Minister's visionary announcement of next-generation GST reforms. This landmark step reflects the Government's deep commitment to building a simpler, more transparent, and growth-oriented tax regime that will empower businesses and benefit consumers alike.' As per news agency ANI, the Prime Minister revealed that a high-powered committee will be set up to review and recommend comprehensive changes to the GST framework. CII called the move 'timely and forward-looking', noting it would help the tax system keep pace with India's fast-changing economy while ensuring stability for investors and entrepreneurs. The industry body welcomed several long-standing suggestions it had championed, including a shift towards a two-rate structure, alongside a separate rate for demerit goods, to simplify the system. CII also backed the correction of inverted duty structures in manufacturing, the reduction of compliance requirements for MSMEs, and the assurance of stable tax rates to boost investor confidence. Banerjee said these measures could significantly improve ease of doing business, cut costs, and speed up economic formalisation and digitisation. The proposed rationalisation of rates, lowering taxes on essential items and adjusting higher rates for luxury and sin goods, was described as a 'balanced approach of equity and efficiency' that would benefit both consumers and government revenue. Since its launch, GST has unified India's market, reduced tax cascading, and created a technology-driven compliance process. According to CII, the reforms mark the beginning of a 'GST 2.0' era, aligned with global standards and supportive of India's $5 trillion economy target. According to ANI, government sources stated that the Centre is considering removing the 12% and 28% GST slabs, retaining only the 5% and 18% rates. Around 99% of items in the 12% category could move to 5%, and nearly 90% of goods in the 28% slab may shift to 18%. CII praised the inclusive approach of the government and pledged to work with the finance ministry, GST Council, and stakeholders for smooth implementation. 'These measures will strengthen India's economic foundations, enhance investor confidence, and position the country among the world's most competitive and resilient economies,' Banerjee concluded. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays , public holidays , current gold rate and silver price .
The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
The Hypocrisy of the West, Laid Bare in Gaza
Israel has killed more than 240 journalists in Gaza, but the West has remained silent. There is no 'Je Suis Anas.' Over the last several months, I, like millions others, have struggled to come to terms with Israel's genocidal campaign in Palestine. In the most recent instance, Israel killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas al Sharif while he was in a journalist tent outside Gaza's Al Shifa hospital. Israel did not even deny targeting Anas. In fact, the Israeli Defence Forces posted a celebratory '🎯' bingo and called Anas 'head of a Hamas cell' without presenting any credible proof. The strike that killed Anas also killed three other Al Jazeera journalists who were in the same tent. Israel has not even attempted to provide a justification for their killing. That is the level of impunity that Israel knows the world will allow it to operate with. It has killed more than 240 journalists since October 7, 2023. But world leaders have said very little. The condemnation, if any, has been subtle and conditional. Contrast this with 10 years ago when Algerian Muslim terrorists targeted journalists of a magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The magazine had published cartoons that allegedly mocked Prophet Mohammed. The terrorists opened fire in the offices, killing 12 people. World leaders were quick to condemn. Paris saw one of its largest ever street mobilisations with an estimated two million people protesting the killing. At the head of the Paris 'Unity March' walked dozens of heads of state and government – François Hollande, Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Matteo Renzi and even Benjamin Netanyahu, among others. They walked arm in arm and said that any assault on journalists would meet a united, unequivocal response and declared ' Je suis Charlie ( I am Charlie)". Fast forward to Gaza. There is studied silence on the targeted killing of journalists by Israel. No world leaders have walked arm in arm. There are no viral hashtags. The very same Netanyahu who marched for 'press freedom' is the commander-in-chief ordering the killing of journalists. There is no ' Je suis Anas'. In the past two years, the hypocrisy of the West has not been hard to miss. Two major wars have dominated headlines, Ukraine and Gaza. In both, civilians have been bombed, journalists killed and international law repeatedly violated. Yet the West has taken opposite positions. What it condemns Russia for in Ukraine, it excuses – and enables – when done by Israel in Gaza. India stands out as Israel's only major non-Western ally. In fact, when it comes to both Ukraine and Gaza, India may be the only country more closely aligned with the aggressor in each case. As for the West, one continues to be surprised, as one should, that it isn't standing in solidarity with the Palestinians. But, how can the West stand in solidarity with Palestinians? It is not a neutral bystander. It is an active enabler and a belligerent in this genocidal campaign. Also read: Why the IDF Chief of Staff Cannot Stop the Killing of Gazans Seeking Food Arming Israel The United States has approved at least $30 billion in arms sales to Israel over 19 months. This includes laser guided missiles, F-15 jets, 2,000 pound bombs, 500 pound bombs. Much of this was approved not by Donald Trump but by Joe Biden. There is also evidence that shows US-made bombs have been used to target civilians. This New York Times story shows visual proof that US manufactured GBU-39 bombs were used to kill at least 50 Palestinians living in a camp for displaced people in Rafah. Biden also used special legal mechanisms to protect Israel from US human rights laws and to continue sending arms to Israel. Germany has been the second largest supplier of arms to Israel. Between October 2023 and May this year, it provided export licenses worth $564 million. The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada have all provided significant military support to Israel, either through direct sales, dual-use components or military intelligence. Notably, among Israel's arms suppliers, India is the only major non-Western country. It has exported rocket engines, explosives and drone components — 'returning the favour,' as some officials have put it, for the weapons Israel supplied during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. Also read: May This Image Be the Last: Praying for, and With, Anas al-Sharif Diplomatic support India, under its current right wing regime, has broken away from its historical position on Palestine. It has repeatedly abstained from United Nations General Assembly votes calling for ceasefires and humanitarian truces. Once the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestinian state, India has now become Israel's main non-Western ally. This shift owes much to the ideological affinity between Hindu nationalism and Zionism — but that's a story for another time. The US has been by far the biggest diplomatic iron shield for Israel. It has vetoed five UN Security Council draft resolutions demanding a humanitarian cease fire. Europe has supplied its own brand of cover. Any attempt by Brussels to issue a common demand for a cease-fire has been stymied by Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Then there is the issue of refusing to comply with international law and arresting Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes. On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Rather than pledge cooperation, Washington retaliated: in February 2025 the White House imposed economic sanctions and visa bans on four ICC judges and senior staff, arguing the court had 'no jurisdiction' over Israel. France announced that 'immunities apply' to Netanyahu because Israel is not an ICC member. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz went even further, saying that he would 'find ways' for Netanyahu to visit Germany without being arrested, effectively signalling that Berlin would not enforce the warrant either. Ironically, Berlin now finds itself aligned with Budapest — a government it usually clashes with over rule of law and LGBTIQ rights. When Hungary banned the 2025 Budapest Pride march, German officials condemned the move. German citizens organised protests, and some even travelled to Budapest to defy the ban. Yet when it comes to offering safe passage to an ally wanted for war crimes, Germany and Hungary stand firmly on the same side. Germany has also moved aggressively to clamp down on Palestinian solidarity on its streets. Authorities have banned several pro-Palestine organisations and imposed temporary bans on demonstrations. Four activists received deportation notices for having attended a sit-in protest at the 'Free' University in Berlin. A stamp issued India in 1981. So, of course, these nations are not going to condemn the killing of journalists because they are complicit in it. An Israeli might have ordered the strike on Anas, but weapon transfers by the US, Germany, India made it possible. The repeated vetoes and the refusal to demand a ceasefire made it possible. The brazen flouting of international law by finding ways to not arrest Netanyahu made it possible. It wasn't Israel alone who killed Anas. The West has long lectured the Global South about 'press freedom', 'rule of law', 'civilised norms', the sanctity of 'rules based international order' and position themselves as the moral compass of the world. But it has done as much to damage belief in these ideas as any 'banana republic' or Islamic regime. Gaza has stripped that illusion bare. The truth is that for the West, rules apply only until one of their own breaks them. When an ally is accused, the law is suspended, the court is punished, and the victims are forgotten. Also read: Mourning a Friend Killed by the Israeli Occupation Now, as the horrors of starvation and mass killings in Palestine, become inescapable for the citizens of these nations and as the public mood has begun to shift ever so slightly, these countries, except the US and India, are beginning to give the appearance of doing something. Germany has said it has halted arms transfers. Several European countries have said they will recognise the state of Palestine. But it's too little and it's too late. Of the 193 UN member countries, 147 already recognise the state of Palestine. The so-called western liberal democracies are in a minority who don't. Plus this bureaucratic recognition will do little to avert the immediate and existential crisis that people in Palestine are facing. The fate of nearly four million Palestinians now rests in the hands of Netanyahu. He made that painfully clear when he said: 'If we had wanted to commit genocide, it would have taken exactly one afternoon.' He has clearly thought about it. Kabir Agarwal is a journalist covering political economy, climate change and food security. This article was originally published in the author's newsletter, 'Unequal'. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Advertisement
