Pope's comments about the genocide in Gaza did not go far enough
On February 25, Francis said 'there should be an investigation into whether Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide.'
Was he unaware that the United Nations had already investigated and called what Israel was doing a genocide, or that 15 months ago the International Court of Justice said Israel was committing a plausible genocide, or that the International Criminal Court indicted Netanyahu for war crimes?
READ MORE: Bishop to represent Scottish Catholics at Pope Francis funeral
Although he was in poor health these past few months, Francis could have gone to Gaza last year to tell Israel to stop. Imagine the impact this would have had.
Archbishop Oscar Romero took such a stand 45 year ago, and in 2018 Francis made him a saint. Romero was assassinated by a US-backed Salvadoran death squad in March 1980 while celebrating mass in San Salvador. The day before he was murdered, he addressed members of the military: 'It is time to regain your conscience. In the name of God and the name of the suffering people, I implore you, I beg you, I order you, stop the repression!'
Another disaster is looming. Netanyahu has been begging the US to attack Iran for years – not because it's on the brink of developing a nuclear bomb (it isn't, although Israel has the bomb), but because, other than Yemen which the US is mercilessly bombing, it opposes Israel's genocide and domination of the Middle East.
READ MORE: Israeli police officers aimed guns at two British MPs in West Bank
The George W Bush administration planned a series of wars on Israel's targets in the Middle East (Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Syria) and Islamic East Africa (Libya, Somalia and Sudan). All these countries, apart from Iran, are in ruins.
Will church leaders condemn this and the other horrors? These 'moral leaders' should remember what Archbishop Oscar Romero said in 1979: 'A church that doesn't provoke any crisis, a gospel that doesn't unsettle, a word of God that doesn't get under anyone's skin, a word of God that doesn't touch the real sin in the society in which it is being proclaimed, what kind of gospel is that?'
Leah Gunn Barrett
Edinburgh
A FEDERAL judge has threatened the Trump administration with contempt of court over its failure to comply with an instruction not to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador. You can almost hear the laughter in the White House from here.
The US Supreme Court previously ruled that a president cannot be charged for any action carried out while in office. In addition, the president has the power to pardon any and all of his various henchmen at will. This power has been wielded increasingly corruptly in favour of cronies, friends and family members in recent years, even apparently for unnamed future indictments.
READ MORE: Mike Small: US history is being rewritten as we enter Orwell's endless present
Combined with Trump's predilection for declaring states of emergency to justify government by executive order, elsewhere called presidential decree, this does not bode well for the survival of US democracy. This calculated bypass of Congressional authority is not only dubious in its legality, its performative implementation is deliberately provocative.
He has already demonstrated he is prepared to interfere in the election process and to incite a mob of his gullible supporters to attack the seat of government in an attempt to overthrow the result when he lost. Upholding the much-vaunted but clearly fragile constitution has not proved to be one of his strong suits.
In a country where there are estimated to be 20 to 30 million assault rifles in civilian hands, a large proportion of them in the possession of Trump's most devoted followers, there is potential for the widespread breakdown of public order, particularly if Trump starts to make moves to run for an unconstitutional third term.
The first real test may come in the run-up to the midterm elections next year. Let's hope the constitution prevails.
Cameron Crawford
Rothesay
STEPH Brawn's article of April 22 highlights the SNP's Nibelung love affair with the EU (with Alyn Smith in the starring role).
Given that three-eighths of Scotland's electorate voted for Brexit, I reckon this SNP dogma harms the cause of indy. The EU-sceptic Alba has positioned itself wisely but, deprived of Alex, is unlikely to make any significant headway at Holyrood.
READ MORE: How campaigners are fighting for Scotland to get back into EU
A further reason to be sceptical is the EU's by now blatant militarism, risking a disastrous confrontation with Russia. An independent Scotland should keep a neutral stance, lest we land in the line of fire as Poland well could, perhaps even Germany and France if their courts stymie the revolt led by the 'Putin-understanders' Marine Le Pen and the AfD.
The UK was always a net contributor to the EU, latterly to the tune of some £9 billion annually (the equivalent of circa £150 per adult!). Scotland back in would be liable for at least that, especially if Ukraine is granted accession.
George Morton
Rosyth
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The Courier
43 minutes ago
- The Courier
Boy, 9, died trying to escape abuse at Fife school as family make 'cover-up' claim
The brother of a nine-year-old boy who died while trying to escape a Fife residential school has accused the UK Government of a cover-up. The youngster was knocked down and killed as police chased him along the M90 in April 1972. It was the 13th time the boy had run away from Corsbie Hall, in Thornton, amid claims of horrific abuse. A Fife MP later claimed the school could be part of 'a major education scandal'. However, Secretary of State for Scotland Gordon Campbell rejected calls for an inquiry. The family of the youngster who died told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry they were astonished at Lord Campbell of Croy's reaction. They claim documents suggest the secretary of state and George Taylor-Bryant, Corsbie Hall's headteacher, were friends. Francis, the boy's brother, said: 'They've airbrushed everything out of existence and it will come back to haunt them. 'My reaction is it's a cover-up.' Corsbie Hall was located in the old Thornton Fever Hospital, near Glenrothes, from 1970 to 1972. The inquiry heard children were regularly beaten, starved and forced to take cold showers at the school for 'mentally and socially disturbed pupils'. And Margaret Thatcher, education secretary at the time, stopped English youngsters from attending. The nine-year-old boy who died cannot be named due to legal restrictions. However, the inquiry heard he was removed from his Stirling home against his family's wishes because was dyslexic. Francis and sister Sharon, both pseudonyms, said their brother complained of being locked in a cupboard in just his pants almost every night. He spoke of being hit with sticks, refused food and forced to scrub floors and carry rocks. Then, in a letter home, the youngster told how he had run away 12 times but promised not to do it again. However, Sharon said: 'He ran away one more time and that's when he was killed.' The youngster's death had a devastating impact on his family and many years later they started looking for answers. They discovered Parliamentary records which show Fife Labour MP Willie Hamilton pushed several times for an official inquiry into Corsbie Hall. He said the situation was 'extremely unsatisfactory'. However, a letter from the secretary of state described their brother running away as 'no more than a boyish escapade'. And Lord Campbell, who died in 2005 aged 83, said: 'No blame can be attached to the school.' He later accused Mr Hamilton of 'being a little hard on the school', adding: 'I don't think an inquiry will serve any useful purpose.' The records show Corsbie Hall headteacher Mr Taylor-Bryant had no teaching or childcare qualifications. They also revealed one of the teachers had previously been charged with sexual offences against children.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Two Israeli ministers sanctioned by UK for ‘inciting extremist violence'
The UK is taking the action to ramp up pressure on Israel alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Mr Lammy said the two Israeli ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights'. In a joint statement with foreign ministers from the four other countries who have announced sanctions, the Foreign Secretary said the two senior Israelis had also incited 'serious abuses of Palestinian human rights'. The statement added: 'These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account.' Downing Street said the two ministers had been sanctioned in their 'personal capacities'. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the two Israeli ministers had been 'inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months' (Carlos Jasso/PA) Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir both belong to right-wing parties which help to prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government. Both have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza. Mr Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory. Asked if the Israeli government's actions in the Palestinian territories amounted to ethnic cleansing, Mr Lammy told reporters at the Foreign Office: 'I was clear to the House of Commons back in September that we did believe that there was a clear risk of a breach of international humanitarian law, and that's why we made a decision to suspend arms (sales). 'Today we are making a decision also to stand against those who encourage abuses of human rights, also to stand against those who encourage violence against Palestinian people.' The Foreign Secretary did not directly answer when asked why similar action had not been taken against Mr Netanyahu, and called on the Israeli government to 'disavow and condemn' the language used by the two ministers. Asked whether the UK would encourage Mr Netanyahu to sack the ministers, Mr Lammy said: 'The Israeli government will make their own determination.' 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Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said it was 'outrageous' that the UK had sanctioned the two ministers. He also said he had spoken with Mr Netanyahu and that an Israeli response would be decided at a 'special government meeting early next week'. Following the sanctions, Mr Ben-Gvir said: 'While the European colonial countries fantasise that we Jews are still their subjects, the streets of their famous cities are being taken over by radical Islam. 'But their campaign of appeasement for the Hamas terrorists will not save them. When they finally wake up, it will be too late.' The UK and its allies have increased pressure on Israel in recent months amid ongoing aid shortages in Gaza, as well as suggestions it could launch a new large-scale offensive into the territory. Reports suggest only scarce amounts of aid are making it into the hands of Gazans, amid a new aid initiative backed by the US and Israel, which has replaced the previous UN-run programme. 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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
I really hate to say it, but I agree with JD Vance. Britain has a free speech problem
Hello from the US where, if you're a fan of things such as civil liberties and not getting shot in the leg by masked thugs sporting law enforcement badges, the situation is somewhat suboptimal. Over in Los Angeles, national guard troops have been brought in to rough up protesters who are demonstrating against immigration raids. There were at least 27 attacks on journalists by law enforcement recorded at the protests between 6 and 8 June, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). One of the most alarming things about the crackdown against protesters in LA is the memo greenlighting it. It acts pre-emptively, a first in the US, authorising the military to be deployed in locations where protests are 'likely to occur'. Scarier still, Donald Trump has said he won't rule out invoking the Insurrection Act: an 1807 law that empowers the president to deploy the military inside the US and use it against Americans. All this, of course, comes amid a wider crackdown on campus protests and free speech (particularly pro-Palestine speech). As a British-Palestinian in the US – one with a green card that I'm in the process of trying to renew – I've been spending a lot of time lately wondering whether I ought to self-deport before the thought police come for me. I have, after all, engaged in naughty behaviour such as publicly stating that genocide is bad, actually. But fleeing to the UK from the US because I value free speech and the right to protest doesn't make much sense. The US may be turning into a police state, but its constitution (for now) provides far more freedom of speech than there is in the UK. I hate to say this – like, I really, really hate to say this – but JD Vance had a point when he told Keir Starmer that Britain has a free speech problem during an Oval Office meeting in February. Vance made a similar accusation during the Munich Security Conference, accusing Europe's leaders of (among other things) censorship. Vance is obviously a raging hypocrite who mainly seems obsessed with the right of religious extremists to harass women having abortions, but he is not wrong about Britain's free speech problem. Vague and outdated laws mean the police in Britain have far too much power to arrest people for offensive internet speech. Per the Economist, 'British police arrest more than 30 people a day for online posts, double the rate in 2017.' The right to protest is also under attack in Britain. Look at the crime and policing bill, which looks likely to come into law later this year and is one of a number of sweeping anti-protest laws recently passed. 'Thanks to this authoritarian legislation, police can define almost any demonstration as 'seriously disruptive' and impose restrictions on it,' Amnesty International UK warned in March. 'Peaceful tactics … have been criminalised. New powers have been created to issue orders banning people from even attending protests.' And look at the case of William Plastow, who is accused of taking part in a Palestine Action protest against an Elbit Systems (an Israeli arms manufacturer) factory near Bristol last year. Plastow faces 21 months in jail before his case goes to trial. His mother recently told the Guardian she believes it is the longest anyone will have been held in jail awaiting trial on protest-related charges. There's also the case of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London. Kneecap have described this as 'political policing' that is intended to stifle criticism of Israel's war in Gaza. While the Economist has acknowledged that Vance is right about the precarity of free speech in Britain and Europe, many liberal voices seem reluctant to acknowledge it. The alarmed takes I've seen about the US this week from European writers have been valid, but there also needs to be urgent consideration of threats to civil liberties closer to home. Anyway, having to acknowledge that I agree with Vance on anything has been a major shock to my system. Time to self-deport to the sofa to recover. Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist
