Latest news with #annexation
New York Times
5 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Don't Forget Your Library Card. And Soon Your Passport.
Once upon a time, a wealthy widow who was a citizen of two neighboring countries hired craftsmen to raise a stately, turreted building of gray granite and stained glass windows. Only the finest wood adorned the reading rooms in its library. Cherubs soared over the proscenium arch in its opera house. But the widow's most important, and perhaps unusual, request was that the building sit exactly on the nations' common border. Inside, black tape representing the boundary ran along the hardwood floors, a symbol not of division but of the enduring friendship between the two lands. Then one day, the leader of the country to the south threatened to annex his neighbor to the north. One of his trusted emissaries visited the building. '51st state,' she said, stepping north over the black tape. 'U.S.,' she said, stepping back. President Trump's tariffs against Canada and his threats to turn it into a U.S. state have fueled a deep crisis among Canadians, forced abruptly to rethink their relations with their neighbor, the rest of the world and even among one another. But they have also upended small-town life across the borderland, where many Canadian and American communities had led intertwined and intimate lives. Perhaps nowhere along the 5,525-mile stretch — still the world's longest undefended border — did that idealism find more powerful expression than in a sleepy corner of southernmost Quebec and northernmost Vermont. There, the Haskell Free Library and Opera House has straddled the border since 1904, the brainchild of Martha Stewart Haskell, the wealthy widow who chose the location, not only for its symbolism, but also for its equal access to both Canadians and Americans. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CNN
5 days ago
- General
- CNN
Israel approves biggest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades
Israel approved a massive expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank this week in a move described as a continuation of de facto annexation of the territory. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion of settlements since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. Israel will establish 22 new settlements, including deep within the West Bank and in area from which the country had previously withdrawn, as part of the new security cabinet decision, according to a joint statement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. 'All the new communities are being established with a long-term strategic vision, aimed at reinforcing Israeli control of the territory, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and securing development reserves for settlement in the coming decades,' the statement said. Peace Now blasted the government for making such a decision in the midst of a war. 'The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace,' the organization said. 'The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.' Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law. The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were designed to pave the way to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of a two-state solution. For months, Israel's military has carried out a massive operation in the West Bank, deploying tanks to the territory for the first time in decades and displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. In February, Katz ordered the military 'to prepare for a prolonged presence' as the military evacuated Palestinian refugee camps. Within the last several weeks, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of raids and arrests across the West Bank. Peace Now said 12 of the new settlements will be the legalization of illegal outposts. Outposts are illegally established by Jewish settlers without approval from the government with the intention to push for formal recognition and legalization. Another nine of the settlements will be entirely new, while the final one will be the conversion of an existing neighborhood to an independent settlement, according to Peace Now. Two of the settlements in the new plan were evacuated during the disengagement from parts of the West Bank in 2005, which forbade Israelis from establishing a civilian presence in those areas. That law was overturned by the current right-wing Israeli government. Smotrich gloated about the new settlements, making clear his goal was annexation. 'The next step – sovereignty! We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our ancestors,' he said in a statement. Earlier this month, the security cabinet approved a land registration process for Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli civil and security control. Peace Now called the move 'a mega theft of Palestinian lands.'
CNN
5 days ago
- General
- CNN
Israel approves biggest expansion of West Bank settlements in decades
Israel approved a massive expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank this week in a move described as a continuation of de facto annexation of the territory. Peace Now, an Israeli non-governmental organization that tracks settlements, said it was the largest expansion of settlements since the signing of the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago. Israel will establish 22 new settlements, including deep within the West Bank and in area from which the country had previously withdrawn, as part of the new security cabinet decision, according to a joint statement from Defense Minister Israel Katz and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. 'All the new communities are being established with a long-term strategic vision, aimed at reinforcing Israeli control of the territory, preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, and securing development reserves for settlement in the coming decades,' the statement said. Peace Now blasted the government for making such a decision in the midst of a war. 'The government is making clear - again and without restraint - that it prefers deepening the occupation and advancing de facto annexation over pursuing peace,' the organization said. 'The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the Occupied Territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal.' Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights, are considered illegal under international law. The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), were designed to pave the way to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of a two-state solution. For months, Israel's military has carried out a massive operation in the West Bank, deploying tanks to the territory for the first time in decades and displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians. In February, Katz ordered the military 'to prepare for a prolonged presence' as the military evacuated Palestinian refugee camps. Within the last several weeks, Israeli forces have carried out multiple waves of raids and arrests across the West Bank. Peace Now said 12 of the new settlements will be the legalization of illegal outposts. Outposts are illegally established be Jewish settlers without approval from the government with the intention to push for formal recognition and legalization. Another nine of the settlements will be entirely new, while the final one will be the conversion of an existing neighborhood to an independent settlement, according to Peace Now. Two of the settlements in the new plan were evacuated during the disengagement from parts of the West Bank in 2005, which forbade Israelis from establishing a civilian presence in those areas. That law was overturned by the current right-wing Israeli government. Smotrich gloated about the new settlements, making clear his goal was annexation. 'The next step – sovereignty! We did not take a foreign land, but the inheritance of our ancestors,' he said in a statement. Earlier this month, the security cabinet approved a land registration process for Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli civil and security control. Peace Now called the move 'a mega theft of Palestinian lands.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Trump repeats Canada 51st state jibe hours after King says country is ‘strong and free'
Donald Trump claimed Canada is 'considering' becoming America's 51st state in exchange for missile protection, hours after the King told Canadians their country is 'strong and free'. The British monarch's speech at the State Opening of Parliament in Ottawa on Tuesday was largely seen as a rebuke of Mr Trump's ambitions for the US to annex its northern neighbour. Hours later, the US president suggested Canada was contemplating giving up its sovereignty to avoid paying billions to be part of his Golden Dome protection system. 'I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome system, that it will cost $61 billion if they remain a separate, but unequal, nation,' Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. He added: 'But will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st state. 'They are considering the offer!' Annexing Canada is an issue that has occupied Mr Trump for months, with the Republican leader previously goading Justin Trudeau, the country's former prime minister, about it. Since Mark Carney, the current Canadian prime minister, took office he has repeatedly insisted that the country is 'not for sale, ever', but the sentiment has not been taken on by Mr Trump. When he pushed back against Mr Trump's expansionist desires during their Oval Office meeting earlier this month, the US president said: 'Never say never,' to which Mr Carney repeatedly said: 'Never.' Mr Trump's most recent comments come days after he ordered weapons to be deployed to space for the first time under a futuristic 'Golden Dome' missile defence system plan. The system, which is inspired by Israel's Iron Dome defence shield, would aim to counter 'next-generation' aerial threats, including hypersonic, cruise and ballistic missiles, the US president said. An initial $25 billion (£18.7 billion) has been earmarked for the project, though the government believes the Golden Dome could cost as much as $175 billion to build. The Golden Dome will 'protect our homeland', Mr Trump said at the time, adding that Canada had also asked to be part of it. On Tuesday the King appeared to take a thinly veiled swipe at Mr Trump, saying in his speech: 'A confident Canada' can 'give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.' He said the Crown 'stands proudly as a symbol of Canada', representing 'stability and continuity', and added that Canadians are 'coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity, and hope'. While the comments did not mention Mr Trump specifically, they will likely have received his attention. Melania Trump revealed in her memoir that she and her husband are pen pals with the King. 'Our friendship with the Royal family continues and we exchange letters with King Charles to this day,' she wrote. Meanwhile, earlier this month Mr Trump accepted an invitation from the King for an unprecedented second state visit. The invitation was presented to Mr Trump by Sir Keir Starmer during his White House charm offensive. The impending visit will make Mr Trump the first elected political leader in modern times to be hosted for two state visits by a British monarch.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Trump doubles down on 51st state calls
Donald Trump doubled down on his position that Canada could become the '51st State' after King Charles' show of support for independence on Tuesday. King Charles, the head of state in Canada, was invited to Canada by new prime minister Mark Carney, prompted by Trump's repeated threats of annexation. He avoided mentioning Trump directly in his speech on Tuesday, but noted Canada's 'anxieties' about a 'changing world' and reaffirmed Canada's sovereignty, saying the 'True North is indeed strong and free'. But Trump seemed to respond to the visit later on Tuesday, writing that if Canada becomes the 'cherished 51st State' it won't have to pay to join his future Golden Dome missile program. 'It will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!,' Trump posted on social media. The comments appears to run contrary to claims from the U.S. ambassador to Canada, who told CBC's The House last week, before the king's speech, that the annexation saga was 'over'. Pete Hoekstra said he understood the message that was being sent with the rare royal address, adding that there were 'easier ways to send messages' to the U.S. government. He said that Canada should 'move on' from the annexation saga, as the Trump administration has 'too much on our plate to move forward'. 'If the Canadians want to keep talking about it - that's their business. I'm not talking about it; Donald Trump is not talking about it,' he said at the time. Trump supporters rallied around the president after his comments on social media. Dean Skoreyko wrote on X: 'Trump owned King Carney and King Charles today. They didn't see it coming. 51th state. [sic]' Columnist Benny Johnson shared the post, noting Trump's claims that Canada was 'considering the offer'. 'Art of the deal,' he wrote. Trump asserted that Canada was 'considering' the offer to join the U.S. days after he announced the new missile defense system, which he estimates will cost $175bn over three years. The shield, he hopes, will be capable of shooting down missiles fired from across the planet, covering the entire United States. Security experts told the WSJ the task ahead is more complex, and the technologies required are still nascent. Nonetheless, Trump insists that the coverage could extend to Canada for a fee - or for free if they join. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly made threats to bring Canada into the United States. Trump's National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz said in February it was unlikely that the U.S. military would invade Canada and annex the country. The suggestion prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give a speech from the throne outlining the Liberal government's priorities for the new session of Parliament. Charles said on Tuesday that Canada is facing unprecedented challenges in a world that's never been more dangerous as he opened the Parliament with a speech widely viewed as a show of support in the face of the annexation threats. 'We must face reality: since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented,' Charles said in French, one of Canada's official languages. He added that 'many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them.' It's rare for the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles´ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice. The king noted that it had been nearly 70 years since his mother first opened Parliament. The visit to Canada was Charles' first as king and his 20th overall. 'Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French and Indigenous roots and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural,' the monarch said. The king said that among the priorities for the government is protection of the French language and Quebec culture, which are at the heart of Canadian identity. He said when his mother opened a new session of Canadian Parliament in 1957, World War II remained a fresh, painful memory and the Cold War was intensifying. 'Freedom and democracy were under threat,' he said. 'Today, Canada faces another critical moment.' The speech isn't written by the king or his U.K. advisers, as Charles serves as a nonpartisan head of state. He read what was put before him by Canada's government, but can make some remarks of his own. Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States. After the United States gained independence from Britain, Canada remained a colony until 1867, and afterward continued as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system. The king's visit clearly underscores Canada's sovereignty, Carney said. Carney won the job of prime minister by promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump and made his first official trip to London and Paris, the capital cities of Canada's two founding nations. Carney is eager to diversify trade, and the king said Canada can build new alliances. More than 75% of Canada's exports go to the U.S., and Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. The king said Canada must protect Quebec's dairy supply management industry, which Trump has attacked in trade talks. And he said the Canadian government will protect the country's sovereignty by reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. Trump has asserted that Canada doesn't spend enough on its military. The king also said Canada would look to the European Union to purchase military equipment by joining the 'REARM Europe' plan - a major defense procurement project to ramp up arms production in Europe. The speech made no mention of buying from the U.S. Charles is also the king of the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and others - 14 realms in total. He exercises no political power in any of them.
