5 nov 2019
The Israeli Supreme Court, Tuesday, upheld deportation orders against Human Rights Watch (HRW) director Omar Shakir for the occupied Palestinian territory for his alleged support of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.
“Breaking: Israeli Supreme Court upholds my deportation over my rights advocacy,” said Shakir in a tweet. “Decision now shifts back to Israeli government; if it proceeds, I have 20 days to leave and it’ll join ranks of Iran, North Korea and Egypt in blocking access for HRW official. We won’t stop. And we won’t be the last.”
The Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, said in a tweet that it stands in solidarity with the HRW director.
“Efforts to hide the occupation and silence criticism against it are bound to fail,” said B’Tselem executive director, Hagai ElAd in a tweet.
“The decision reflects perfectly the state of affairs at the highest judicial institution in Israel — not rule of law, but legal propaganda at the service of the occupation.”
“In essence, the Supreme Court’s ruling grants a legal seal of approval to the further shrinking of the already limited space in Israel to oppose the occupation.
For decades, this space has been non-existent for Palestinians; now, it will be diminished further for international stakeholders; and soon, also for Israelis.”
“Breaking: Israeli Supreme Court upholds my deportation over my rights advocacy,” said Shakir in a tweet. “Decision now shifts back to Israeli government; if it proceeds, I have 20 days to leave and it’ll join ranks of Iran, North Korea and Egypt in blocking access for HRW official. We won’t stop. And we won’t be the last.”
The Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, said in a tweet that it stands in solidarity with the HRW director.
“Efforts to hide the occupation and silence criticism against it are bound to fail,” said B’Tselem executive director, Hagai ElAd in a tweet.
“The decision reflects perfectly the state of affairs at the highest judicial institution in Israel — not rule of law, but legal propaganda at the service of the occupation.”
“In essence, the Supreme Court’s ruling grants a legal seal of approval to the further shrinking of the already limited space in Israel to oppose the occupation.
For decades, this space has been non-existent for Palestinians; now, it will be diminished further for international stakeholders; and soon, also for Israelis.”
4 nov 2019
The act of Palestinian activists covering their faces during anti-Israeli occupation rallies is an old practice that spans decades. The masking of the face, often by Kufyias – traditional Palestinian scarves that grew to symbolise Palestinian resistance – is far from being a fashion statement. Instead, it is a survival technique, without it, activists are likely to be arrested in subsequent nightly raids; at times, even assassinated.
In the past, Israel used basic technologies to identify Palestinians who take part in protests and mobilize the people in various popular activities. TV news footage or newspaper photos were thoroughly deciphered, often with the help of Israel’s collaborators in the Occupied Territories, and the ‘culprits’ would be identified, summoned to meet Shin Bet intelligence officers or arrested from their homes.
That old technique was eventually replaced by more advanced technology, countless images transmitted directly through Israeli drones – the flagship of Israel’s “security industry”. Thousands of Palestinians were detained and hundreds were assassinated in recent years as a result of drones data, analyzed through Israel’s burgeoning facial recognition software.
If in the past, Palestinian activists were keen on keeping their identity hidden, now they have much more compelling reasons to ensure the complete secrecy of their work. Considering the information sharing between the Israeli army and illegal Jewish settlers and their armed militias in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians face the double threat of being targeted by armed settlers as well as by Israeli soldiers.
True, when it comes to Israel, such a grim reality is hardly surprising. But what is truly disturbing is the direct involvement of international corporate giants, the likes of Microsoft, in facilitating the work of the Israeli military, whose sole aim is to crush any form of dissent among Palestinians.
Microsoft prides itself on being a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR), emphasizing that “privacy (is) a fundamental human right.”
The Washington-State based software giant dedicates much attention, at least on paper, to the subject of human rights. “Microsoft is committed to respecting human rights,” Microsoft Global Human Rights Statement asserts. “We do this by harnessing the beneficial power of technology to help realize and sustain human rights everywhere.”
In practice, however, Microsoft’s words are hardly in line with its action, at least not when its human rights maxims are applied to occupied and besieged Palestinians.
Writing in the American news network NBC News on October 27, Olivia Solon reported on Microsoft funding of the Israeli firm, AnyVision, which uses facial recognition “to secretly watch West Bank Palestinians”.
Through its venture capital arm M12, Microsoft has reportedly invested $78 million in the Israeli startup company that “uses facial recognition to surveil Palestinians throughout the West Bank, in spite of the tech giant’s public pledge to avoid using the technology if it encroaches on democratic freedoms”.
AnyVision had developed an “advanced tactical surveillance” software system, dubbed “Better Tomorrow” that, according to a joint NBC News-Haaretz investigation, “lets customers identify individuals and objects in any live camera feed, such as a security camera or smartphone, and then track targets as they move between different feeds.”
As disquieting as “Better Tomorrow’s” mission sounds, it takes on a truly sinister objective in Palestine. “According to five sources familiar with the matter,” wrote Solon, “AnyVision’s technology powers a secret military surveillance project throughout the West Bank.”
“One source said the project is nicknamed ‘Google Ayosh,’ where ‘Ayosh’ means occupied Palestinian territories and ‘Google’ denotes the technology’s ability to search for people.”
Headquartered in Israel, AnyVision has several offices around the world, including the US, the UK, and Singapore. Considering the nature of AnyVision’s work, and the intrinsic link between Israel’s technology sector and the country’s military, it should have been assumed that the company’s software is likely used to track down Palestinian dissidents.
In July, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz pointed out that “AnyVision is taking part in two special projects in assisting the Israeli army in the West Bank. One involves a system that it has installed at army checkpoints that thousands of Palestinians pass through each day on their way to work from the West Bank.”
Former AnyVision employees spoke to NBC News about their experiences with the company, one even asserting that he/she “saw no evidence that ethical considerations drove any business decisions” at the firm.
The alarming reports invited strong protests by human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Alas, Microsoft carried on with supporting AnyVision’s work unhindered.
This is not the first time that Microsoft is caught red-handed in its support of the Israeli military or criticized for other unethical practices.
Unlike Facebook, Google and others, who are constantly, albeit deservingly being chastised for violating privacy rules or allowing politics to influence their editorial agenda, Microsoft has been left largely outside the brewing controversies. But, like the rest, Microsoft should be held to account.
In its ‘Human Rights Statement’, Microsoft declared its respect for human rights based on international conventions, starting with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In occupying and oppressing Palestinians, Israel violates every article of that declaration, starting with Article 1, which states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” and including Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
It will take Microsoft more than hyperlinking to a UN document to show true and sincere respect for human rights.
Indeed, for a company that enjoys great popularity throughout the Middle East and in Palestine itself, an inevitable first step towards respecting human rights is to immediately divest from AnyVision, coupled with an apology for all of those who have already paid the price for that ominous Israeli technology.
In the past, Israel used basic technologies to identify Palestinians who take part in protests and mobilize the people in various popular activities. TV news footage or newspaper photos were thoroughly deciphered, often with the help of Israel’s collaborators in the Occupied Territories, and the ‘culprits’ would be identified, summoned to meet Shin Bet intelligence officers or arrested from their homes.
That old technique was eventually replaced by more advanced technology, countless images transmitted directly through Israeli drones – the flagship of Israel’s “security industry”. Thousands of Palestinians were detained and hundreds were assassinated in recent years as a result of drones data, analyzed through Israel’s burgeoning facial recognition software.
If in the past, Palestinian activists were keen on keeping their identity hidden, now they have much more compelling reasons to ensure the complete secrecy of their work. Considering the information sharing between the Israeli army and illegal Jewish settlers and their armed militias in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians face the double threat of being targeted by armed settlers as well as by Israeli soldiers.
True, when it comes to Israel, such a grim reality is hardly surprising. But what is truly disturbing is the direct involvement of international corporate giants, the likes of Microsoft, in facilitating the work of the Israeli military, whose sole aim is to crush any form of dissent among Palestinians.
Microsoft prides itself on being a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR), emphasizing that “privacy (is) a fundamental human right.”
The Washington-State based software giant dedicates much attention, at least on paper, to the subject of human rights. “Microsoft is committed to respecting human rights,” Microsoft Global Human Rights Statement asserts. “We do this by harnessing the beneficial power of technology to help realize and sustain human rights everywhere.”
In practice, however, Microsoft’s words are hardly in line with its action, at least not when its human rights maxims are applied to occupied and besieged Palestinians.
Writing in the American news network NBC News on October 27, Olivia Solon reported on Microsoft funding of the Israeli firm, AnyVision, which uses facial recognition “to secretly watch West Bank Palestinians”.
Through its venture capital arm M12, Microsoft has reportedly invested $78 million in the Israeli startup company that “uses facial recognition to surveil Palestinians throughout the West Bank, in spite of the tech giant’s public pledge to avoid using the technology if it encroaches on democratic freedoms”.
AnyVision had developed an “advanced tactical surveillance” software system, dubbed “Better Tomorrow” that, according to a joint NBC News-Haaretz investigation, “lets customers identify individuals and objects in any live camera feed, such as a security camera or smartphone, and then track targets as they move between different feeds.”
As disquieting as “Better Tomorrow’s” mission sounds, it takes on a truly sinister objective in Palestine. “According to five sources familiar with the matter,” wrote Solon, “AnyVision’s technology powers a secret military surveillance project throughout the West Bank.”
“One source said the project is nicknamed ‘Google Ayosh,’ where ‘Ayosh’ means occupied Palestinian territories and ‘Google’ denotes the technology’s ability to search for people.”
Headquartered in Israel, AnyVision has several offices around the world, including the US, the UK, and Singapore. Considering the nature of AnyVision’s work, and the intrinsic link between Israel’s technology sector and the country’s military, it should have been assumed that the company’s software is likely used to track down Palestinian dissidents.
In July, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz pointed out that “AnyVision is taking part in two special projects in assisting the Israeli army in the West Bank. One involves a system that it has installed at army checkpoints that thousands of Palestinians pass through each day on their way to work from the West Bank.”
Former AnyVision employees spoke to NBC News about their experiences with the company, one even asserting that he/she “saw no evidence that ethical considerations drove any business decisions” at the firm.
The alarming reports invited strong protests by human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Alas, Microsoft carried on with supporting AnyVision’s work unhindered.
This is not the first time that Microsoft is caught red-handed in its support of the Israeli military or criticized for other unethical practices.
Unlike Facebook, Google and others, who are constantly, albeit deservingly being chastised for violating privacy rules or allowing politics to influence their editorial agenda, Microsoft has been left largely outside the brewing controversies. But, like the rest, Microsoft should be held to account.
In its ‘Human Rights Statement’, Microsoft declared its respect for human rights based on international conventions, starting with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In occupying and oppressing Palestinians, Israel violates every article of that declaration, starting with Article 1, which states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” and including Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
It will take Microsoft more than hyperlinking to a UN document to show true and sincere respect for human rights.
Indeed, for a company that enjoys great popularity throughout the Middle East and in Palestine itself, an inevitable first step towards respecting human rights is to immediately divest from AnyVision, coupled with an apology for all of those who have already paid the price for that ominous Israeli technology.
30 oct 2019
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel has mobilized activists in 20 countries, calling for a boycott of German sportswear manufacturer Puma, due to its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association (IFA).
Human rights activists and sports fans were called to demonstrate at Puma retail outlets, offices, and matches of Puma-sponsored teams, on Saturday.
Images circulating in social media consequently showed protesters and athletes taking part in the protests in various countries, including the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Austria, Italia, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
Among the various events was a pro-Palestine solidarity football match organized by the USIM and UniSZA universities in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Users on social media also expressed solidarity with the boycott movement, posting images of Puma clothing, shoes and bags with “Boycott” written over them.
Last week, advertisements regarding the “Boycott Puma” movement also appeared in subway cars in Britain’s capital city of London, describing the sportswear company as a “proud sponsor of Israeli apartheid.”
London’s transport managing body, Transport for London (TfL), vowed to “immediately” remove the posters shortly later, however.
The October 26 protests mark a second wave of international boycott protests against Puma following an earlier global day of action in June, PNN further reports.
The protests come after Puma signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the IFA shortly after its rival Adidas announced that it would be no-longer sponsoring the IFA last year.
The BDS movement’s official website claims that Adidas’ decision followed “an international campaign and the delivery of over 16,000 signatures to Adidas headquarters.”
‘Whitewashing Israeli occupation’
Female Palestinian football player Aya Khattab voiced her support for the #BoycottPuma movement.
“We are constantly subjected to humiliating searches at military checkpoints when we travel for training sessions or events. Our matches get interrupted and raided by armed soldiers. Our pitches get swallowed by ever-expanding illegal settlements and our stadiums destroyed by Israeli bombs,” she wrote.
“That is why we expect the rest of the world, and especially sport institutions and companies, to be aware of our pain and to support us. That is why we reject attempts by sport brands and companies to whitewash Israel’s occupation,” Khattab added.
Human rights activists and sports fans were called to demonstrate at Puma retail outlets, offices, and matches of Puma-sponsored teams, on Saturday.
Images circulating in social media consequently showed protesters and athletes taking part in the protests in various countries, including the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Austria, Italia, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
Among the various events was a pro-Palestine solidarity football match organized by the USIM and UniSZA universities in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Users on social media also expressed solidarity with the boycott movement, posting images of Puma clothing, shoes and bags with “Boycott” written over them.
Last week, advertisements regarding the “Boycott Puma” movement also appeared in subway cars in Britain’s capital city of London, describing the sportswear company as a “proud sponsor of Israeli apartheid.”
London’s transport managing body, Transport for London (TfL), vowed to “immediately” remove the posters shortly later, however.
The October 26 protests mark a second wave of international boycott protests against Puma following an earlier global day of action in June, PNN further reports.
The protests come after Puma signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the IFA shortly after its rival Adidas announced that it would be no-longer sponsoring the IFA last year.
The BDS movement’s official website claims that Adidas’ decision followed “an international campaign and the delivery of over 16,000 signatures to Adidas headquarters.”
‘Whitewashing Israeli occupation’
Female Palestinian football player Aya Khattab voiced her support for the #BoycottPuma movement.
“We are constantly subjected to humiliating searches at military checkpoints when we travel for training sessions or events. Our matches get interrupted and raided by armed soldiers. Our pitches get swallowed by ever-expanding illegal settlements and our stadiums destroyed by Israeli bombs,” she wrote.
“That is why we expect the rest of the world, and especially sport institutions and companies, to be aware of our pain and to support us. That is why we reject attempts by sport brands and companies to whitewash Israel’s occupation,” Khattab added.
29 oct 2019
According to the new Swedish foreign minister, support for Israel and its defense does not contradict the need to end the occupation and protect Palestinians rights, even using non-violent tools such as the BDS
Newly appointed Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde told the Swedish parliament she does not consider the Boycott Divest Sanctions (BDS) movement Antisemitic.
Linde said she does not support boycotts but considers the BDS a legitimate, political, non-violent tool, in the struggle for human rights, freedom of expression and an end to occupation.
The new minister had visited Israel a number of times in the past and is in favor of expanding trade agreements between Israel and Sweden.
"The Swedish government has made it very clear that it supports Israel's security needs and that Israel's right to exist is not debatable in any way". Linde said in a television interview Monday, "The fact that Israel's neighbors challenge its to exist makes Israel more vulnerable, but the Middle East must see the promotion of democratic values and human rights" she said.
"I hope to visit Israel in an official capacity. I am fond of both Israel and the Palestinian territories." She added, " I was in Sderot and saw the damage done by Hamas rockets that landed on a kindergarten, so I understand the threat and the fear."
"This does not contradict the view that the occupation which is in violation of UN resolutions, must end and the Palestinians must be given their rights to live in recognized borders." The minister added.
Officials in Jerusalem condemned Linde's comments and claimed she is playing into the hands of Anti-Semites.
Newly appointed Swedish foreign minister Ann Linde told the Swedish parliament she does not consider the Boycott Divest Sanctions (BDS) movement Antisemitic.
Linde said she does not support boycotts but considers the BDS a legitimate, political, non-violent tool, in the struggle for human rights, freedom of expression and an end to occupation.
The new minister had visited Israel a number of times in the past and is in favor of expanding trade agreements between Israel and Sweden.
"The Swedish government has made it very clear that it supports Israel's security needs and that Israel's right to exist is not debatable in any way". Linde said in a television interview Monday, "The fact that Israel's neighbors challenge its to exist makes Israel more vulnerable, but the Middle East must see the promotion of democratic values and human rights" she said.
"I hope to visit Israel in an official capacity. I am fond of both Israel and the Palestinian territories." She added, " I was in Sderot and saw the damage done by Hamas rockets that landed on a kindergarten, so I understand the threat and the fear."
"This does not contradict the view that the occupation which is in violation of UN resolutions, must end and the Palestinians must be given their rights to live in recognized borders." The minister added.
Officials in Jerusalem condemned Linde's comments and claimed she is playing into the hands of Anti-Semites.
Linde replaced Margot Wallström as foreign minister earlier this month.
Israel had boycotted Wallstrom after she made what Jerusalem considered anti-Israeli statements, and following her call to investigate Israeli killings of Palestinians.
Under her leadership, the Swedish government recognized Palestine as an independent state.
Israel had boycotted Wallstrom after she made what Jerusalem considered anti-Israeli statements, and following her call to investigate Israeli killings of Palestinians.
Under her leadership, the Swedish government recognized Palestine as an independent state.
In a historic step, Oslo’s newly installed City Council is banning Israeli settlement goods and services from public procurements.
The ban on goods from Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a part of the newly adopted platform for 2019 – 2023 approved by Oslo’s recently-elected City Council, led by the Socialist Left (SV), Labour and Green parties.
Despite concerted efforts by Israel and its right-wing allies in Norway and worldwide to repress accountability measures in support of Palestinian rights, Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, has now become the sixth Norwegian municipality to ban settlement goods and services, along with one county council.
Last week, the U.N. independent expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Michael Lynk, called for an international ban on all Israeli settlements products, as a step towards ending Israel’s 52-year-old illegal occupation.
Oslo’s City Council committed through their new platform to:Investigate the scope of action in the procurement regulations to not trade goods and services produced on territory occupied in violation of international law by companies operating under the permission of the occupying power.
The ban on settlement products and services does not distinguish between Israeli and international corporations that operate in Israel’s illegal settlements.
Sunniva Eidsvoll, leader of the Oslo chapter of the Socialist Left Party (SV) and of SV’s Oslo City Council group, said: “The Palestinian people, who have to deal with the illegal occupation of their territory every single day, deserve international attention and support.
It is a shared global responsibility to help ensure that human rights and international law are not violated. I am proud that the Oslo City Council is now taking steps to prevent goods and services purchased by the city from supporting an illegal occupation of Palestine or other territories.”
The Socialist Left Party of Norway has been a longtime supporter of the BDS movement.
Tora Systaad Tyssen of the Association of NGOs in Norway (Frivillighet Norge), said: “The Oslo City Council follows those in Trondheim, Tromsø, Vaksdal, Hamar, Lillehammer, and the Nordland County Council in banning business with the illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian land.
It is uplifting and inspiring to see Norwegian municipal councils taking a firm stand for human rights and international law when our current government is failing to.”
Whereas our national government wants more trade and cooperation with Israel, the new City Council in Oslo states clearly that it does not want to contribute financially to the large-scale theft of Palestinian land and resources that Israel’s expanding settlement industry is carrying out.
Alys Samson Estapé, Europe campaigns coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), said: “We welcome this legally and morally responsible step taken by the Oslo City Council. Local councils are showing they are undeterred by repression, and continue to pave the way, despite inaction by national governments.
A ban on goods and services from Israel’s illegal settlements is the very least that government institutions should enact to cut their complicity with Israel’s regime of apartheid, settler colonialism and occupation.”
On top of such a ban, the Norwegian government should also adopt a comprehensive embargo on direct and indirect arms trade and military cooperation with Israel and Israeli companies to ensure end-user compliance with international law.
The Irish government is currently reviewing the Occupied Territories Bill, approved by both houses of Parliament, which would ban Ireland from importing goods from Israel’s illegal settlements.
In 2018, three right-wing parties sought to prevent the settlement boycotts in Trondheim and Tromsø.
However, Norway’s state secretary at the foreign ministry, Audun Halvorsen, dealt a blow to those efforts, saying that a boycott of “goods and services produced in settlements does not contradict Norway’s international commitments.”
The ban on goods from Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a part of the newly adopted platform for 2019 – 2023 approved by Oslo’s recently-elected City Council, led by the Socialist Left (SV), Labour and Green parties.
Despite concerted efforts by Israel and its right-wing allies in Norway and worldwide to repress accountability measures in support of Palestinian rights, Oslo, Norway’s capital and largest city, has now become the sixth Norwegian municipality to ban settlement goods and services, along with one county council.
Last week, the U.N. independent expert on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Michael Lynk, called for an international ban on all Israeli settlements products, as a step towards ending Israel’s 52-year-old illegal occupation.
Oslo’s City Council committed through their new platform to:Investigate the scope of action in the procurement regulations to not trade goods and services produced on territory occupied in violation of international law by companies operating under the permission of the occupying power.
The ban on settlement products and services does not distinguish between Israeli and international corporations that operate in Israel’s illegal settlements.
Sunniva Eidsvoll, leader of the Oslo chapter of the Socialist Left Party (SV) and of SV’s Oslo City Council group, said: “The Palestinian people, who have to deal with the illegal occupation of their territory every single day, deserve international attention and support.
It is a shared global responsibility to help ensure that human rights and international law are not violated. I am proud that the Oslo City Council is now taking steps to prevent goods and services purchased by the city from supporting an illegal occupation of Palestine or other territories.”
The Socialist Left Party of Norway has been a longtime supporter of the BDS movement.
Tora Systaad Tyssen of the Association of NGOs in Norway (Frivillighet Norge), said: “The Oslo City Council follows those in Trondheim, Tromsø, Vaksdal, Hamar, Lillehammer, and the Nordland County Council in banning business with the illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian land.
It is uplifting and inspiring to see Norwegian municipal councils taking a firm stand for human rights and international law when our current government is failing to.”
Whereas our national government wants more trade and cooperation with Israel, the new City Council in Oslo states clearly that it does not want to contribute financially to the large-scale theft of Palestinian land and resources that Israel’s expanding settlement industry is carrying out.
Alys Samson Estapé, Europe campaigns coordinator of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), said: “We welcome this legally and morally responsible step taken by the Oslo City Council. Local councils are showing they are undeterred by repression, and continue to pave the way, despite inaction by national governments.
A ban on goods and services from Israel’s illegal settlements is the very least that government institutions should enact to cut their complicity with Israel’s regime of apartheid, settler colonialism and occupation.”
On top of such a ban, the Norwegian government should also adopt a comprehensive embargo on direct and indirect arms trade and military cooperation with Israel and Israeli companies to ensure end-user compliance with international law.
The Irish government is currently reviewing the Occupied Territories Bill, approved by both houses of Parliament, which would ban Ireland from importing goods from Israel’s illegal settlements.
In 2018, three right-wing parties sought to prevent the settlement boycotts in Trondheim and Tromsø.
However, Norway’s state secretary at the foreign ministry, Audun Halvorsen, dealt a blow to those efforts, saying that a boycott of “goods and services produced in settlements does not contradict Norway’s international commitments.”
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