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Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Majority seek end to Israel weapons sales: Survey spanning three continents
A majority of people in five nations – Brazil, Colombia, Greece, South Africa and Spain – believe that weapons companies should stop or reduce trade with Israel as its onslaught on Gaza continues, a poll released on Thursday reveals. Spain showed the highest support for weapons deals to be halted, with 58 percent of respondents saying they should stop completely, followed by Greece at 57 percent and Colombia at 52 percent. In Brazil, 37 percent of respondents believed arms companies should completely stop sales to Israel, while 22 percent believed they should be reduced. In South Africa, those levels stood at 46 and 20 percent, respectively. Commissioned by the Global Energy Embargo for Palestine network, endorsed by the left-wing Progressive International organisation, and fielded by the Pollfish platform last month, the survey comes in the wake of a call by Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, on countries to slash financial relations with Israel as she decried an 'economy of genocide'. 'The people have spoken, and they refuse to be complicit. Across continents, ordinary citizens demand an end to the fuel that powers settler colonialism, apartheid and genocide,' said Ana Sanchez, a campaigner for Global Energy Embargo for Palestine. 'No state that claims to uphold democracy can justify maintaining energy, military, or economic ties with Israel while it commits a genocide in Palestine. This is not just about trade; it's about people's power to cut the supply lines of oppression.' The group said it chose the survey locations because of the countries' direct involvement in the import and transport of energy to Israel. More than 1,000 respondents in each nation were asked about governmental and private sector relations with Israel to measure public attitudes on responsibility. Condemnation of Israel's action in Gaza as the humanitarian crisis escalates was the highest in Greece and Spain and lowest in Brazil. Sixty-one percent and 60 percent in Greece and Spain respectively opposed Israel's current 'military actions' in Gaza, while in Colombia, 50 percent opposed them. In Brazil and South Africa, 30 percent were against Israel's war, while 33 percent and 20 percent, respectively, supported the campaign. To date, Israel's genocide in Gaza has killed more than 60,000 people – most of them women and children. Now home to the highest number of child amputees per capita, much of the besieged Strip is in a state of ruin as the population starves. As the crisis worsens, arms dealers and companies that facilitate their deals are facing heightened scrutiny. In June, as reported by Al Jazeera, Maersk divested from companies linked to Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, following a campaign accusing the Danish shipping giant of links to Israel's military and occupation of Palestinian land. On Tuesday, Norway announced that it would review its sovereign wealth fund's investments in Israel, after it was revealed that it had a stake in an Israeli firm that supplies fighter jet parts to the Israeli military. In recent months, several wealth and pension funds have distanced themselves from companies linked to Israel's war on Gaza or its illegal occupation of the West Bank. Responding to the poll, 41 percent in Spain said they would 'strongly' support a state-level decision to reduce trade in weapons, fuel and other goods in an attempt to pressure Israel into stopping the war. This figure stood at 33 percent in Colombia and South Africa, and 28 and 24 percent in Greece and Brazil, respectively. 'The message from the peoples of the world is loud and clear: They want action to end the assault on Gaza – not just words,' said David Adler, co-general coordinator of Progressive International. 'Across continents, majorities are calling for their governments to halt arms sales and restrain Israel's occupation.'
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Why are Democrats so unpopular? Liberal leader offers a clue
This country really is a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world, and that's part of what makes America unlike any other on earth. The mutual understanding that America is a land of opportunity and that it's an honor to call it home is what binds citizens together, even if our ancestors came from diverse parts of the globe. Of all Americans, you'd think members of Congress would be the first to embrace utmost allegiance to their country. For some Democrats, that's not the case. "I'm a proud Guatemalan before I'm an American," Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, said in Spanish to a conference last weekend of leftist leaders in Mexico City. It's a jarring statement coming from one of our nation's lawmakers. Opinion: Are you hot, fit and tan? Get ready for liberals to label you a MAGA fanatic. Congress members take an oath to our country. Do they mean it? Ramirez wasn't the only U.S. progressive in attendance at the second annual Panamerican Congress. She was joined by several other "Squad" members, progressive House lawmakers, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. The event was organized in part by the leader of Progressive International, a "radical left-wing group," according to Fox News. At the Progressive International's inaugural summit in 2020, its leaders declared that "capitalism is the virus": "We aspire to eradicate capitalism everywhere. We believe that exploitation, dispossession, and environmental destruction are written into the genetic code of capitalism. We do not support efforts to save this system, nor enable its expansion to all corners of the earth." It makes one wonder what members of the U.S. Congress were doing there in the first place, but I digress. Ramirez isn't the only congresswoman to make her disdain toward our country known. Omar, who escaped war-torn Somalia as a child to come to the United States, claimed in June that America was being turned into "one of the worst countries" - presumably because she disagrees with President Donald Trump. Unlike Omar, Ramirez was born a U.S. citizen after her Guatemalan mother crossed into the country while she was pregnant with Ramirez. It's hard to think of another country where a first-generation citizen could go from poverty to the halls of Congress. That's not enough, however, to win Ramirez's loyalty over the corrupt country her parents escaped. Opinion: News media should report what's happening in Gaza, not run Hamas propaganda Members of Congress take an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and promise they will "bear true faith and allegiance to the same." Ramirez's comment on the world stage seems to defy that oath. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Should Ramirez be 'deported'? She should at least apologize. Once Ramirez's anti-American comments hit social media, the pushback was swift. The White House called her words "despicable." Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, wrote: "Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie." The Homeland Security X account also questioned her allegiance. Similar sentiments were echoed across the conservative media ecosystem. Opinion: Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad triggers liberals. She looks good. They don't. The House member, for her part, has responded with defensiveness. "Let's call it what it is: today's attacks are a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government," Ramirez said in a statement. "It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress - who betray their oath each day they enable Trump - are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots." Ramirez didn't just celebrate her roots, however. Before world leaders, she elevated the country where her parents fled above her own. She's an American and a member of Congress. There's no defense for what she said. Ramirez owes her constituents - and the rest of us - an apology. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
USA Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Shouldn't members of Congress love America first? Not if you're a Democrat.
Rep. Delia Ramirez didn't just celebrate her Guatemalan roots. Before world leaders, she elevated the country that her parents fled above the nation she was elected to represent. Like most Americans, my ancestors immigrated to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their future families. Six out of eight of my great-grandparents came from Norway. I grew up very aware of that heritage, with some Norwegian traditions passed down through the generations. Yet, neither my parents – nor my grandparents, who were first-generation Americans – have ever referred to themselves as Norwegian Americans. They are Americans. And they're proud of it. This country really is a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world, and that's part of what makes America unlike any other on earth. The mutual understanding that America is a land of opportunity and that it's an honor to call it home is what binds citizens together, even if our ancestors came from diverse parts of the globe. Of all Americans, you'd think members of Congress would be the first to embrace utmost allegiance to their country. For some Democrats, that's not the case. 'I'm a proud Guatemalan before I'm an American,' Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, said in Spanish to a conference last weekend of leftist leaders in Mexico City. It's a jarring statement coming from one of our nation's lawmakers. Opinion: Are you hot, fit and tan? Get ready for liberals to label you a MAGA fanatic. Congress members take an oath to our country. Do they mean it? Ramirez wasn't the only U.S. progressive in attendance at the second annual Panamerican Congress. She was joined by several other 'Squad' members, progressive House lawmakers, including Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. The event was organized in part by the leader of Progressive International, a "radical left-wing group," according to Fox News. At the Progressive International's inaugural summit in 2020, its leaders declared that "capitalism is the virus": "We aspire to eradicate capitalism everywhere. We believe that exploitation, dispossession, and environmental destruction are written into the genetic code of capitalism. We do not support efforts to save this system, nor enable its expansion to all corners of the earth." It makes one wonder what members of the U.S. Congress were doing there in the first place, but I digress. Ramirez isn't the only congresswoman to make her disdain toward our country known. Omar, who escaped war-torn Somalia as a child to come to the United States, claimed in June that America was being turned into 'one of the worst countries' – presumably because she disagrees with President Donald Trump. Unlike Omar, Ramirez was born a U.S. citizen after her Guatemalan mother crossed into the country while she was pregnant with Ramirez. It's hard to think of another country where a first-generation citizen could go from poverty to the halls of Congress. That's not enough, however, to win Ramirez's loyalty over the corrupt country her parents escaped. Opinion: News media should report what's happening in Gaza, not run Hamas propaganda Members of Congress take an oath to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,' and promise they will 'bear true faith and allegiance to the same.' Ramirez's comment on the world stage seems to defy that oath. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Should Ramirez be 'deported'? She should at least apologize. Once Ramirez's anti-American comments hit social media, the pushback was swift. The White House called her words 'despicable.' Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, wrote: 'Denaturalize, deport, and kick her off Homeland Committee. We know where her allegiances lie.' The Homeland Security X account also questioned her allegiance. Similar sentiments were echoed across the conservative media ecosystem. Opinion: Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad triggers liberals. She looks good. They don't. The House member, for her part, has responded with defensiveness. 'Let's call it what it is: today's attacks are a weak attempt to silence my dissent and invalidate my patriotic criticism of the nativist, white supremacist, authoritarians in government,' Ramirez said in a statement. 'It is the definition of hypocrisy that members of Congress − who betray their oath each day they enable Trump − are attacking me for celebrating my Guatemalan-American roots.' Ramirez didn't just celebrate her roots, however. Before world leaders, she elevated the country where her parents fled above her own. She's an American and a member of Congress. There's no defense for what she said. Ramirez owes her constituents – and the rest of us – an apology. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
Daily Mail
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Far-left campaign group headed up Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana urged people to join Palestine Action - days after it was banned under terror laws
Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana head up a group which was inciting people to join Palestine Action after it had been proscribed. Progressive International - a far left campaign group - was urging supporters (via its website) to 'take on US complicity with the Israeli war machine' by joining Palestine Action for several days after it had been banned in Britain under terror legislation. This revelation comes one day after the pair launched a new far-left political party which will focus on defending 'the right to protest against genocide' and ending 'all arms sales to Israel '. The former Labour leader also received thousands of pounds worth of donations from Progressive International to pay for multiple costly trips abroad including to Brasil, the United States and Columbia. Shortly after The Daily Mail contacted Progressive International for comment on July 9, references to Palestine Action were deleted from its website. But last night [25.07.2025] the organisation was still promoting a jointly made Progressive International, Palestine Action map of Elbit factories as part of Palestine Action's direct action #ShutElbitDown campaign. The Linkedin post also included a link to the now-deleted Palestine Action website. Palestine Action was proscribed by the Government on July 5 after protesters associated with the group broke into Britain's largest airbase and vandalized two RAF Voyager aircrafts. Expressing support for or being a member of the group is a crime under terrorism legislation and can lead to up to 14 years in prison. But for almost five days after its proscription, the Progressive International website was still encouraging people to join Palestine Action. Under a heading titled 'Palestine Action' it read: 'Palestine Action is a direct action group founded to take on Elbit systems. 'In its first year of operation, Palestine Action caused over £15 million in losses to Elbit sites alone and shut down the operation for 105 days.' Palestine Action alleges that Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly denies. Until July 10, the page also featured a map highlighting the locations of dozens of Elbit factories alongside the caption 'Elbit systems target map. 'Global targets for the campaign to #ShutElbitDown. 'Follow Palestine Action.' The so-called target map also linked directly to Palestine Action's 'The Underground Manual' which instructed supporters how to form 'cells', 'pick targets' and commit criminal damage. Both Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana are members of the Progressive International Council meaning they are responsible for setting its 'strategic direction', according to the website. Progressive International also paid to fly Jeremy Corbyn and in some cases his wife on a series of lavish and exotic trips. In October 2022 the campaign group took the politician and his wife to Brazil for a five-day trip costing £3,680.00, according to his Registered Financial Interests. They also took the former Labour leader to Washington in January 2023 to attend Congressional meetings and advocate for 'press freedom and the case of Julian Assange' - a trip worth £1,452.00. In May 2022 the organisation also flew Mr Corbyn to Bogota, Columbia - covering costs of £1,667.70. In response to the allegations that they were illegally expressing support for a banned group after it had been proscribed, a spokesperson for The Progressive International explained that the web pages referencing Palestine Action were published in December 2023 - pre-dating the ban. [MUST KEEP] They added: 'The Progressive International is proud to organise in defence of international law and the inalienable rights of all peoples. 'The Progressive International opposes the authoritarian constriction of the right to protest, in the United Kingdom and across the world.' Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and the Metropolitan police have been contacted for comment.
The South African
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
The Hague Group is gunning for Netanyahu
And about bloody time too, I say. It is now blatantly obvious that wanted war criminal, illegitimate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his berserk blood-thirsty Zionist regime are officially going full Samson option. In the past few weeks, homicidal Israel has expanded its sickening, evil, ethnic cleansing holocaust in Gaza to include bombing Iran and Syria – reigniting a civil war in the latter. All part of the Zionist regime's expansive, imperial, neo-colonial 'Greater Israel' project. Thankfully, it appears more and more countries around the world are finally waking up and uniting against corrupt, psychopathic, mass-murdering, maniac Benjamin Netanyahu, and the neo-Nazi, genocidal, apartheid Zionist regime. Heck, I hear even pro-Zionist US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is slamming Israel for their tendency to insult, assault and spit on…Christians. (No, I'm not making that up.) On 31 January, nine nations – Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa – convened by Progressive International met in The Hague, the Netherlands, to form The Hague Group. Their mission: 'Pursue collective action through coordinated legal and diplomatic measures to hold Israel accountable for grave violations of international law against the Palestinian people, and bring Benjamin Netanyahu to justice.' On 15 and 16 July, Hague Group members from 30 countries across the world converged for an emergency conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bogota, Republic of Colombia. They were united by a single purpose: end Israel's impunity, uphold international law and cease the genocide in Gaza. The conference was called in response to Israel's ongoing and escalating violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the crime of genocide. The emergency meeting, co-chaired by South Africa, centred on the legal obligations of states as determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024; to stop all actions that assist the illegal situation created by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory and support the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination. In his address, Zane Dangor, director-general of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, said: 'The impunity continues unabated. We are legally obligated not to condone internationally wrongful acts of the government of Israel.' Among the key attendees were ex-British Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and UNHRC Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestine Territory, Francesca Albanese. In her statement addressing the conference, Francesca Albanese said: 'The occupied Palestinian territory today is a hellscape. In Gaza, Israel has dismantled even humanitarian aid, to deliberate, starve, displace or kill a population they have marked for elimination.' She then called on all member states of the Group to fulfil their obligations under International Law. 'I am here to recount to you – uncompromisingly and dispassionately – the cure for the root cause', she said. 'We are long past the time to deal with the symptoms. The Hague Group has committed to obligations under international law.' 'Obligations, not sympathy, not charity.' She said. 'Each state must immediately review and suspend all ties with the State of Israel; military, strategic, political, diplomatic and economic, and make sure that their private sectors and other service providers do the same.' Albanese recently came under fire from Israel, the US and their Western pro-Zionist lapdog 'allies' for her astute, clear-eyed report on Israel's unhinged genocide in Gaza. Albanese filed her report Anatomy of a Genocide with the UN Human Rights Council on 1 July 2024. The report thoroughly documents Israel's holocaust in Gaza and cites the ICJ's order that Israel prevent and punish genocide and ensure humanitarian aid – which Israel has ignored. The report summary states (extract): 'After five months of military operations, Israel has destroyed Gaza. Over 30 000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 13 000 children and over 12 000 are presumed dead and 71 000 injured or mutilated. 'Seventy percent of residential areas have been destroyed. Eighty percent of the population has been forcibly displaced. Thousands have been detained and systematically subjected to severe ill-treatment. The incalculable collective trauma will be experienced for generations to come.' The report concludes: 'There are reasonable grounds to believe that Israel has committed genocide.' (Duh! Ya think?) In that report, and a follow-up video for Double Down News released on 17 July this year, Albanese also revealed how Israel's economy thrives off the genocide in Gaza – particularly through weapons, intel and data companies. And what was the response by the so-called free and democratic US to Francesca's report? For doing her job? For documenting and criticising Israel's holocaust? On 9 July, bible-thumping, AIPAC-funded, rabid pro-Zionist and Eschatological Israel apologist, US Secretary of State, loco Marco Rubio released a press statement titled: Sanctioning Lawfare that Targets U.S. and Israeli Persons. In it, Rubio announced sanctions on UNHRC Rapporteur for Palestine OT, Francesca Albanese. Why? Well, according to Rubio… 'Albanese has directly engaged with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel, without the consent of those two countries, making this action a gross infringement on the sovereignty of both countries,' the statement read. Rubio claimed Albanese spewed 'unabashed antisemitism', expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the US, Israel, and the West. It's worth noting that Rubio's sanctions on Albanese came the day after Donald Trump welcomed indicted war criminal Netanyahu to the White House – for the third time in less than six months. (Which was also around the same time that Trump's Department of Justice and FBI did a u-turn on releasing the Epstein client list.). Responding to the US sanctions in a text to Al Jazeera , Albanese said: 'No comment on mafia-style intimidation techniques.' But she did query why she had been sanctioned for exposing a genocide and denouncing the system. 'They never challenged me on the facts,' she said. Following Rubio's announcement of US sanctions on Albanese, many were quick to point out the hypocritical, tyrannical fascism being displayed by the US – as usual. Human Rights Lawyer and ex-UN official, Craig Mokhiber responded to Rubio on X: 'This is a lawless, vile act, Rubio. Your arrogance will catch up to you. The impunity that you are enjoying now will be gone within a few years, and you will be held accountable for your violations of human rights. There are millions who will work to ensure it.' Indie news publisher Chris Menahan posted a video on X of Israeli Likudnik politician, Danny Danon, openly ordering Trump, last April, to sanction and ban Albanese from the US for 'promoting hate'. And Trump did – through Rubio. Demonstrating, once again, Israel and the AIPAC lobby's stranglehold on POTUS and the US government. In another response to Rubio's sanctions, Iranian-born Swedish writer and activist, Trita Parsi, founder of the Quincy Institute and the National Iranian American Council, posted two photos on X, side by side. The first was of Syria's de facto (HTS) leader, jihadi ex-terrorist Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as al-Julani). The other photo was of UNHRC Rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Above the images, Parsi wrote: 'The man below is the founder of Al Qaeda in Syria. The US just took his organisation off its terror list and lifted sanctions (and a $10M bounty) on him. The woman below is the UN rapporteur on Israel and Palestine. The US is about to impose sanctions on her. Let that sink in. In his article titled, The Persecution of Francesca Albanese, Pulitzer Prize-winning journo Chris Hedges wrote: 'The sanctioning by the Trump administration of Francesca Albanese is an ominous harbinger of the end of the rule of international law.' He also predicted, 'When the history of the genocide in Gaza is written, one of the most courageous champions for justice and adherence to international law will be UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.' In a recent article by Truthout , Marjorie Cohn wrote: 'In the height of irony, war criminal Netanyahu nominated serial lawbreaker Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. But it is Albanese who deserves that prize.' Richard Falk, who served as UN Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestine from 2008 to 2014, told Truthout that Albanese (above Trump) deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, not punitive targeted sanctions by the US. 'This was an intimidating attack on Albanese, an unpaid civil servant, for her brave truth-telling and expert knowledge – fully in accord with expectations of the job to report periodically to the UNHRC and General Assembly,' Falk said. 'Her well-documented reports have broken the mainstream silence in the West on Israel's genocidal assault, carried out before the eyes and ears of the world, shocking many by its transparency and sadism over more than 20 months. She has also exposed shameful patterns of U.S. complicity with Israeli criminality,' he added By the end of the conference, The Hague Group affirmed that the international community has 'a legal and moral obligation to act, and ensure that the orders of the ICJ are fully respected and implemented'. In a declaration issued after the meeting, the Group agreed to six specific measures aimed at 'restraining Israel's assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories', including an arms embargo, a review of contracts with companies that benefit from Israel's actions in Gaza, and complying with arrest warrants issued by the ICC against Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu. The declaration also called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, and the international prosecution of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The 12 countries committed to the measures are Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and South Africa. The declaration marked the strongest joint statement yet by the group, which has aligned itself with South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. Of the emergency meeting, Riyad Mansour, Minister of the State of Palestine, said: 'This conference and others that will follow are the beginning of a new stage in the struggle of the Palestinian people.' Colombian President Gustavo Petro hailed the outcome as 'a milestone in the defence of international law and human dignity'. In her speech at The Hague Group conference, Francesca Albanese warned that the world is facing a 'critical test'. She also insisted that there was no more 'good' or 'bad' Israel. 'It is impossible to disentangle Israel's state policies and economy from its longstanding occupation. It has been inseparable for decades. This is the complicity. Now, that economy has turned genocidal. There is no good Israel, bad Israel ,' she argued. To illustrate her point, Albanese suggested the HG delegates and members consider this moment as if they were back in the 1990s deliberating the case of apartheid South Africa. She asked: 'Would you have proposed selective sanctions on SA for its conduct in individual Bantustans? Or would you have recognised the state's criminal system as a whole?' 'And here, what Israel is doing is worse. 'This is not just a legal matter – it is a moral one. 'The time for action…is now,' she added. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. 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