Irwin Cotler joins thousands of prominent Jews calling on Israel to end war in Gaza
The longtime human rights activist, a strong supporter of Israel, has signed an open letter saying Netanyahu's policies on Palestinians 'are doing lasting damage to Israel' and the prospects for peace.
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
UEFA charges Israeli and Polish clubs over political fan banners that raised diplomatic tension
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA opened a disciplinary case Friday after an Israeli soccer club's fans displayed a banner targeting Poland that was criticized by the Polish president and diplomats from Israel. Fallout from the Maccabi Haifa vs. Rakow Czestochowa game Thursday in UEFA's Conference League adds to current scrutiny around non-sporting issues being aired at international soccer. The slogan 'Murderers since 1939' in English was shown by Maccabi Haifa fans at a qualifying game in UEFA's Conference League against Polish team Rakow. It was quickly condemned by the president of Poland and Israel's embassy in the country. Polish President Karol Nawrocki posted on X the banner was 'scandalous' and an insult to Polish victims of World War Two including three million Jews. Maccabi Haifa and Rakow played the game in neutral Hungary — instead of Israel for security reasons — one week after the first leg in Poland. There, Rakow fans showed a banner in Polish saying Israel was murdering people and the world was silent. UEFA said Friday both clubs have been charged with 'transmitting a message not fit for a sports event' in a case that will be judged by its disciplinary panel. No timetable was given for imposing sanctions which could be fines and closing part of a stadium at a future game. Rakow won 2-0 Thursday and eliminated Maccabi Haifa 2-1 on aggregate score. The Polish government's foreign ministry said Friday it had spoken with Israel's ambassador to the country, Yaakov Finkelstein. 'He expressed his utmost outrage at the scandalous content of a banner displayed by the Israeli fans and thanked for its firm condemnation by the embassy,' the Polish ministry said in a statement. Poland's ambassador in Israel also was set to discuss the incident with Israel's government, the ministry said, adding: 'Polish-Israeli relations must not, and will not, be undermined by extremists.' UEFA does not allow overt political messaging by fans or clubs in stadiums at European competition games it organizes but was itself criticized this week. On Wednesday, UEFA displayed the message 'Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians' on the field before its showpiece Super Cup game between the Champion League title holder Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winner Tottenham, played at Udine, Italy. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. UEFA said it was part of a campaign with its charitable foundation that has projects helping children affected by conflicts also in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine. When the PSG and Tottenham players were presented with their medals, the post-game ceremony involved two Palestinian children who are refugees in Italy from Gaza. At the Champions League final played in Munich in May, PSG fans displayed a banner 'Stop Genocide in Gaza' in English. UEFA did not punish the Qatari-owned French club for the display. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Far-right Israeli minister confronts long-imprisoned Palestinian leader face to face
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A video widely circulated on Friday shows Israel's far-right national security minister berating a Palestinian leader face-to-face inside a prison, saying anyone who acts against the country will be 'wiped out.' Marwan Barghouti is serving five life sentences after being convicted of involvement in attacks at the height of the Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in the early 2000s. Polls consistently show he is the most popular Palestinian leader. He has rarely been seen since his arrest more than two decades ago. It was unclear when the video was taken, but it shows National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for staging provocative encounters with Palestinians, telling Barghouti that he will 'not win.' 'Anyone who murders children, who murders women, we will wipe them out,' Ben-Gvir said. Ben-Gvir's spokesman confirmed the visit and the video's authenticity, but denied that the minister was threatening Barghouti. Barghouti, now in his mid-60s, was a senior leader in President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah movement during the intifada. Many Palestinians see him as a natural successor to the aging and unpopular leader of the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel considers him a terrorist and has shown no sign it would release him. Hamas has demanded his release in exchange for hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. In a Facebook post, Barghouti's wife said she couldn't recognize her husband, who appeared frail in the video. Still, she said after watching the video, he remained connected to the Palestinian people. 'Perhaps a part of me does not want to acknowledge everything that your face and body shows, and what you and the prisoners have been through,' wrote Fadwa Al Barghouthi, who spells their last name differently in English. Israeli officials say they have reduced the conditions under which Palestinians are held to the bare minimum allowed under Israeli and international law. Many detainees released as part of a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this year appeared gaunt and ill, and some were taken for immediate medical treatment. ——— Follow AP's war coverage at
Toronto Star
8 hours ago
- Toronto Star
I'm a former ambassador to Israel. This is why there's still reason to hope for a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine
Despite the horrific Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel that killed almost 1200 Israelis, wounded thousands more and took 250 hostages including babies and old men and women; and despite the horrors of the war in Gaza that followed, in which over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed including approximately 18,000 children and where a humanitarian crisis continues to this day; I remain convinced that in time saner heads will prevail and the 7.5 million Israelis and 7.5 million Palestinians who currently share the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River will live side by side in peace and security. How can I still have hope?
