Latest news with #Palestinianterritories
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Slovenia introduces ban on imports from Israeli-occupied territories
BELGRADE (Reuters) -Slovenia on Wednesday introduced a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and approved an additional aid package for Palestinians in Gaza, the government said in a statement. "The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports," the statement on the government website said. The statement did not specify whether the ban refers to all goods produced in the territories or just Israeli goods. The government also instructed the competent ministries to consider banning the export of goods from Slovenia intended for these Israeli-occupied settlements. "Israeli government's actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law," Prime Minister Robert Golob said in statement quoted by the STA news agency. "These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order." The news agency said the volume of goods affected is extremely low at under 2,000 euros ($2,327.60) in 2023. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal. The Israeli government deems settlements legal under its own laws, while some so-called "outposts" are illegal but often tolerated and sometimes later legalised. The government also said on Wednesday it would provide material assistance in the form of food and blankets, estimated to be worth up to 879,490 euros, to the Palestinians affected by the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza. Slovenia recognised a Palestinian state in June last year, following Spain, Ireland and Norway. It last week imposed an embargo on exports, imports and the transit of arms to Israel, two weeks after it declared Israeli ministers persona non grata. (1 = 0.8596 euros) ($1 = 0.8593 euros)
South China Morning Post
04-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump administration links US$1.9 billion federal disaster funding to Israel boycott stance
The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycott Israeli companies, according to an agency statement. States must certify that they will not cut off 'commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies' to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), according to the agency's terms for grantees. Advertisement The condition applies to at least US$1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. It is the latest example of US President Donald Trump 's administration making use of routine federal funding to advance its political message at the state level. Fema said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. 'DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism,' a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. Advertisement The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. Fema will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of US$553.5 million set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas, according to a grant notice posted on Friday.
Reuters
04-08-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US links $1.9 billion in state disaster funds to Israel boycott stance
WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycott Israeli companies, according to an agency statement. States must certify that they will not cut off 'commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies' to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the agency's terms, opens new tab for grantees. The condition applies to at least $1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. It is the latest example of the Trump administration making use of routine federal funding to advance its political message at the state level. FEMA said in July that U.S. states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. 'DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism,' a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal, opens new tab. FEMA will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of $553.5 million set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas, according to a grant notice posted Friday. New York City is slated to receive $92.2 million from the program, the most of all the recipients. Allocations are based on the agency's analysis of 'relative risk of terrorism,' according to the notice.
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel's narrative cannot survive the truth, so it's silencing the world
We are living in truly extraordinary times. We recently witnessed the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, being sanctioned by the United States for doing her job – that is, documenting Israel's abuses against Palestinians during its ongoing military assault on Gaza. But with more than 58,000 Palestinians killed to date in Gaza, the case for Israel is weaker than ever. So, for Israel's sake, we need to silence and ban everything. Of course, silencing and censorship have been the modus operandi of the pro-Israel camp since October 2023. In the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel, they came for all those who insisted that the history of Palestine and Israel did not begin on October 7, 2023, and for pointing to the longer history of occupation, settler colonialism, or the siege of Gaza since 2007 – they were silenced, censored, and punished. Those were the days of the now‑discredited reports of 'beheaded babies'. Across the US and Europe, some faced death threats and social media attacks, while others were reprimanded by employers and line managers for criticising Israeli policies or publicly expressing pro-Palestinian views. In schools across Maryland, Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, teachers were suspended and student clubs shut down for pro-Palestine activism. University professors in the US and the United Kingdom were reported to the police for 'liking' or sharing pro-Palestinian social media posts. In May 2024, Maura Finkelstein became the first tenured academic to be dismissed for anti-Zionist speech. She was fired from Muhlenberg College after posting a Palestinian poet's work. Between October 2023 and now, there have been scores of such cases around the world. Only a few days ago, four adjunct professors at the City University of New York were dismissed for their Palestine solidarity activism. Then they came for the press. While the foreign press has been banned from entering Gaza, Palestinian journalists there have been treated as legitimate military targets by Israel. On average, 13 journalists have been killed per month – a toll higher than that of 'both World Wars, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia and the United States war in Afghanistan combined'. It is the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded. Elsewhere, journalistic voices – especially those of Middle Eastern or North African descent – have been systematically silenced for supporting the Palestinian cause or criticising the Israeli government. This includes Australian radio host Antoinette Lattouf, who was dismissed in December 2023 after posting a Human Rights Watch report alleging that 'Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza'. Palestinian-Canadian journalists Yara Jamal (CTV) and Zahraa al-Akhrass (Global News, during maternity leave) were both sacked in October 2023, following pressure from Honest Reporting Canada. Briahna Joy Gray and Katie Halper were also fired from Hill News for statements critical of Israel. Gray announced on X: 'The Hill has fired me … there should be no doubt that … suppressing speech – particularly when it's critical of the state of Israel.' Beyond dismissals, Western media executives have shaped the narrative, repeating Israeli propaganda, mischaracterising Palestinian activism as pro-Hamas or anti-Semitic, portraying Israelis as victims far more often than Palestinians, and whitewashing Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The BBC, in particular, has faced repeated criticism for its pro-Israel bias. From the language used in headlines to the disproportionate airtime given to Israeli officials, its reporting has consistently been accused of downplaying Palestinian suffering and mirroring Israeli government talking points. Staff resignations, open letters, and public protests have all challenged the broadcaster's editorial stance on Gaza. At Upday, Europe's largest news aggregator owned by Axel Springer, employees were instructed to 'colour the company's coverage of the war in Gaza with pro‑Israel sentiment'. Internal documents obtained by The Intercept revealed staff were told not to 'push anything involving Palestinian casualty tolls' unless 'information about Israel' was given 'higher up in the story'. There is more. After October 7, students at Harvard were subjected to terrifying doxxing campaigns labelling them anti-Semitic or terrorist sympathisers, their photos and personal data shared publicly. As Israel's scholasticide continued in Gaza, the silencing spread on campuses across the US and Europe. Palestine solidarity encampments saw students demanding their institutions cut ties with Israeli universities and the military‑industrial complex. They faced brutal police crackdowns, suspensions, and some were denied graduation. Universities swiftly imposed new restrictions on gatherings and protests to curb student Palestine solidarity. Now, under a Trump administration, such suppression is public policy, extending to threats of arrest, denaturalisation and deportation for pro‑Palestinian voices, including lawmakers like NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani. Trump falsely labelled him 'illegal', branded him a 'communist', and threatened arrest if he obstructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 'operations' – echoing GOP Representative Andy Ogles's call for denaturalisation and deportation, citing alleged misrepresentations in Mamdani's naturalisation without any evidence. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the Justice Department had received related requests. We have also seen Palestinian flags banned at sporting and music events. Individuals have been refused entry into public venues and businesses for wearing a keffiyeh. The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, was warned that he and the ICC would be 'destroyed' if they did not drop the case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Four ICC judges were sanctioned by the US government. Academy Award‑winner Susan Sarandon was dropped by her talent agency, UTA, for remarks at a Palestine solidarity rally. Melissa Barrera was dismissed from the cast of Scream VII for social media posts describing Israeli actions as genocide and ethnic cleansing. Spyglass Media Group stated it has 'zero tolerance for antisemitism … including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion'. Recently, performers like Bob Vylan and Irish group Kneecap used their platforms at music festivals to show solidarity with Palestine. The group now faces terror charges. Vylan's shows in Europe were cancelled, and his US visa revoked, putting an upcoming tour of the country in doubt. The pro-Israel camp also launched a campaign against the Glastonbury Festival after both artists performed there in June. They targeted the BBC for airing the performances live and pressured organisers to distance themselves from the musicians. The backlash made clear that even major cultural institutions are not safe from censorship efforts. Adding to this troubling trend, widely respected Israeli‑American historian and genocide scholar Omer Bartov has become a focal point of a fierce backlash. In an op‑ed for The New York Times, titled 'I'm a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It', Bartov declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, pointing to the systematic infrastructure destruction, forced population shifts and rhetoric by Israeli leaders, arguing it matches both UN and legal definitions of genocide. Since then, he has been slammed by pro‑Israel factions, accused of misapplying the term and urged to be 'cancelled', a campaign he rebuts by highlighting that many genocide studies experts share his conclusion. The reputational assault currently faced by Bartov demonstrates how even the world's leading genocide experts are now being targeted for naming Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. This may already appear to be an extensive campaign of suppression. But consider: what does it say about Israel's position if it relies so heavily on censorship? Nonetheless, it remains insufficient. For Israel's sake, every student, academic, activist, musician, artist or lawmaker who criticises its policies must now be branded a terror supporter. Every civil society organisation, human rights group or international body documenting Israeli abuses must be labelled anti-Semitic. Only then can we claim we saw nothing. Only then can we say we heard nothing. And only then can we justify why we did nothing when the genocide was ongoing in Gaza. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.
The National
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Francesca Albanese urges countries to cut all ties with Israel over Gaza war
The UN's special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories on Tuesday urged countries to make concrete moves to stop the 'genocide' in Gaza. Francesca Albanese spoke to delegates from 30 countries who met in Colombia's capital to discuss the Israel-Gaza war and ways that nations can try to stop Israel's military offensive in the territory. 'Each state must immediately review and suspend all ties with the state of Israel … and ensure its private sector does the same,' Ms Albanese said. 'The Israeli economy is structured to sustain the occupation that has now turned genocidal.' She stressed the importance of completely cutting ties. 'Cutting ties only with the components that are in the occupied territories would only treat the symptoms,' Ms Albanese said. She has previously accused Israel of carrying out one of the 'cruellest genocides in modern history'. The two-day conference is the first meeting of the Hague Group, a collection of developing countries who have vowed to uphold the rulings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court with respect to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Many of the countries attending have described what is happening in Gaza as genocide, which Israel has rejected. It is not clear whether the conference's participating countries have enough influence over Israel to force it to change its policies in Gaza, where more than 58,300 people have been killed in Israeli military operations. They followed a deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 people. The conference is co-chaired by the governments of South Africa and Colombia. South Africa in late 2023 filed a case with the ICJ, accusing Israel of committing genocide. Colombia in May last year cut relations with Israel in response to the Gaza war, and has requested to join South Africa's ICJ case. Colombia's vice minister for foreign affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo, said on Monday that the nations taking part in the Bogota meeting, which also include Qatar and Turkey, will be discussing diplomatic and judicial measures that can put more pressure on Israel to stop its attacks. Mr Jaramillo described Israel's conduct in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as an affront to the international order. 'This is not just about Palestine,' he told reporters. 'It is about defending international law … and the right to self-determination.' Ms Albanese's comments and her attendance at the event come after the US imposed sanctions against her over her efforts to have the ICC take action against US and Israeli officials, companies and executives. The move came after a February executive order by US President Donald Trump placed sanctions on the ICC and anyone assisting its work.
