30 july 2019
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Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh described, during the annual conference of Socialist International (SI) hosted this year by the State of Palestine, the administration of US President Donald Trump as "stupid" stressing that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not a partner in peace.
The premier described Trump's administration as "stupid” for thinking that it could push the Palestinian people to surrender, stressing that the Palestinian people proved that they will not be defeated nor surrender, and will not accept less than the minimum of freedom, independence, and the establishment of a sovereign state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. He accused the Trump administration of extorting the Palestinian people through its recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and transferring its embassy there, shutting down the PLO office in Washington, and drying up the Palestinian Authority's financial resources. Shtayyeh said that the Trump administration said it would solve the Palestinian issue and complete the century deal, which we welcomed at first and showed all good intentions toward, but were surprised by the unprecedented steps in its hostility and realized that all this was part of America's approach to market the deal of the century. “What is happening is dangerous for the future of Palestine, the region, and the world." Shtayyeh said Netanyahu and the right-wing governments he has led have never been a political partner; Israel steals our land and money and kills |
our sons, he said, adding that, “We want an Israeli partner in peace based on a two-state solution.”
He said that Israel has ed options left under Netanyahu’s rule; either the two-state solution or the demographic death, either the two-state solution or no Jewish democratic state, either the two-state solution or no peace.
He called on the SI to stop the Israeli theft of Palestinian territories, oblige Israel to pay for its human rights violations, pressure the governments of countries to ask settlers who carry their nationalities to leave the Palestinian territories, and to support President Abbas' initiative for the convening of an international peace conference in the Middle East based on international legitimacy.
He said that in light of Israel's non-compliance with any of the bilateral agreements signed with the PLO, the Palestinian leadership has decided to suspend these agreements because Israel does not respect any of them and violates them systematically, stating that a committee was formed today to study mechanisms for implementing this decision.
“We are peace seekers who are committed to all agreements, but it is not reasonable to remain a committed party, while the other party is not committed in any way," said Shtayyeh.
For his part, Luis Ayala, the Secretary General of the Socialist International, said the current decisions of the US administration on Middle East issue, break away from international consensus and international legitimacy.
He said that the issue of Palestine is a global issue and not just a regional issue, adding that, “our mission is to move forward in promoting people's freedom and rights."
He said that Israel has ed options left under Netanyahu’s rule; either the two-state solution or the demographic death, either the two-state solution or no Jewish democratic state, either the two-state solution or no peace.
He called on the SI to stop the Israeli theft of Palestinian territories, oblige Israel to pay for its human rights violations, pressure the governments of countries to ask settlers who carry their nationalities to leave the Palestinian territories, and to support President Abbas' initiative for the convening of an international peace conference in the Middle East based on international legitimacy.
He said that in light of Israel's non-compliance with any of the bilateral agreements signed with the PLO, the Palestinian leadership has decided to suspend these agreements because Israel does not respect any of them and violates them systematically, stating that a committee was formed today to study mechanisms for implementing this decision.
“We are peace seekers who are committed to all agreements, but it is not reasonable to remain a committed party, while the other party is not committed in any way," said Shtayyeh.
For his part, Luis Ayala, the Secretary General of the Socialist International, said the current decisions of the US administration on Middle East issue, break away from international consensus and international legitimacy.
He said that the issue of Palestine is a global issue and not just a regional issue, adding that, “our mission is to move forward in promoting people's freedom and rights."
The US Senate has stopped short of forming a majority required to override President Donald Trump’s veto earlier in the month of three congressional resolutions aimed at blocking the country’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On Monday, the chamber was set to try rendering the vetoes, which Trump issued on July 24 against three congressional measures, ineffective, Reuters reported.
However, a first vote on trying to overturn one veto on a measure passed by Congress to block the sale of certain weapons to the Saudi kingdom was backed by 45 senators against 40. The Senate’s Republicans shunned the bid en masse, with only five supporting the vote. Fifteen senators, meanwhile, withheld their votes.
The vote tallies were similar in the two subsequent roll-call votes to override vetoes of the legislation blocking the additional weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Congress has been trying to intervene in Washington’s untrammeled arms sales to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which have been leading an invasion of Yemen since March 2015. Congress’ effort was also aimed at attempting to pressure the Saudi government to improve its human rights record.
Tens of thousands have died since the onset of the military aggression, which has unsuccessfully sought to bring back Yemen’s former Saudi-allied officials.
The arms sold by the US to the kingdom include guided bombs, which the latter has been using rampantly against Yemeni civilians.
Washington also offers unstinting logistical support for the invasion, including bombing coordinates. Until earlier in the year, it had also been refueling Saudi warplanes midair, but stopped the process after the coalition grew independent of the support.
An American commando contingent has also been identifying arms depots belonging to the Yemeni forces, who have been defending the impoverished nation against the Saudi-led coalition.
Don't turn back on Yemen: UN
Also on Monday, a senior United Nations official urged the international community "not to turn its back" on Yemen and to honor its pledges of aid for the war-racked country.
"Four years of conflict according to the UNDP latest report have set back Yemen by 20 years," United Nations Development Program administrator, Achim Steiner told AFP in an interview in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
He said the UN had received less than 36 percent of the $2.6 billion pledged at a Geneva conference in February.
"Currently, in the next two or three months we can expect that if funding does not materialize, over 21 programs will have to be rolled back," Steiner added.
"It is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” he reminded.
On Monday, the chamber was set to try rendering the vetoes, which Trump issued on July 24 against three congressional measures, ineffective, Reuters reported.
However, a first vote on trying to overturn one veto on a measure passed by Congress to block the sale of certain weapons to the Saudi kingdom was backed by 45 senators against 40. The Senate’s Republicans shunned the bid en masse, with only five supporting the vote. Fifteen senators, meanwhile, withheld their votes.
The vote tallies were similar in the two subsequent roll-call votes to override vetoes of the legislation blocking the additional weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.
Congress has been trying to intervene in Washington’s untrammeled arms sales to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, which have been leading an invasion of Yemen since March 2015. Congress’ effort was also aimed at attempting to pressure the Saudi government to improve its human rights record.
Tens of thousands have died since the onset of the military aggression, which has unsuccessfully sought to bring back Yemen’s former Saudi-allied officials.
The arms sold by the US to the kingdom include guided bombs, which the latter has been using rampantly against Yemeni civilians.
Washington also offers unstinting logistical support for the invasion, including bombing coordinates. Until earlier in the year, it had also been refueling Saudi warplanes midair, but stopped the process after the coalition grew independent of the support.
An American commando contingent has also been identifying arms depots belonging to the Yemeni forces, who have been defending the impoverished nation against the Saudi-led coalition.
Don't turn back on Yemen: UN
Also on Monday, a senior United Nations official urged the international community "not to turn its back" on Yemen and to honor its pledges of aid for the war-racked country.
"Four years of conflict according to the UNDP latest report have set back Yemen by 20 years," United Nations Development Program administrator, Achim Steiner told AFP in an interview in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
He said the UN had received less than 36 percent of the $2.6 billion pledged at a Geneva conference in February.
"Currently, in the next two or three months we can expect that if funding does not materialize, over 21 programs will have to be rolled back," Steiner added.
"It is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” he reminded.
28 july 2019
US Representative Elijah Cummings, Democrat of Maryland and Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee
US President Donald Trump has launched a “racist” attack on Representative Elijah Cummings, yet another lawmaker of color, merely days after telling four congresswomen of minority backgrounds to go back to places where they came from.
The president went on a twitter tirade on Saturday, accusing Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, of doing such a “poor job” that his district in Baltimore, Maryland has become a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess."
Trump went on to claim that conditions in Cummings' district, which is 52 percent African American, is "far worse and more dangerous" than those at the US-Mexico border.
"If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place," Trump said, arguing that the lawmaker’s district “is considered the Worst in the USA" and "no human being would want to live there." tweet
Cummings is a frequent critic of Trump and has launched several investigations into the Trump administration regarding the Republican president’s finances as well as some White House-related issues, including security clearances.
The latest attack came after Cummings, 68, criticized acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan over border conditions during a committee hearing on July 18.
He also erupted at Trump earlier this month after the president used similar racist language to attack four progressive Democratic congresswomen of color to "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."
The controversial remarks were addressed at Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib Michigan and Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts. Besides Omar, who is from a immigrant Somali family, the three other lawmakers were born in the US.
Continuing his attacks into Sunday, Trump also blasted the Oversight investigation without providing any basis for his claims. Interestingly, the tweets came shortly after Fox News aired a program in which a Republican strategist described Cummings' district as worse than those at the southern border.
Trump has been caught using Fox News as the source for many of his claims in the past.
Cummings hit back at Trump, defending his decision as the head of the House Oversight Committee and as a lawmaker.
"Mr. President, I go home to my district daily," Cummings wrote on Twitter Saturday in response. "Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbors. It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But, it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents." tweet
Sanders, Pelosi react
Trump’s attack on Cummings drew harsh responses from other lawmakers, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Virginia Senator Bernie Sanders taking the center stage.
Pelosi led Democratic legislators in defending Cummings, describing the tweets as "racist attacks."
She described Cummings as “a champion in the Congress and the country for civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague.”
“We all reject racist attacks against him and support his steadfast leadership,” Pelosi wrote. tweet
Sanders said he was shocked that Trump would use such words to describe American cities.
"It's unbelievable that we have a President of the United States who attacks American cities, who attacks Americans," the Vermont senator told CNN.
"Our job is to bring people together, to improve life for all people, not to be, have a racist President who attacks people because they are African Americans.
That is a disgrace and that is why we're going to defeat this President," said Sanders, one of the few Democratic presidential hopefuls who stands a chance to face Trump during the 2020 race for the White House.
US President Donald Trump has launched a “racist” attack on Representative Elijah Cummings, yet another lawmaker of color, merely days after telling four congresswomen of minority backgrounds to go back to places where they came from.
The president went on a twitter tirade on Saturday, accusing Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, of doing such a “poor job” that his district in Baltimore, Maryland has become a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess."
Trump went on to claim that conditions in Cummings' district, which is 52 percent African American, is "far worse and more dangerous" than those at the US-Mexico border.
"If he spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous & filthy place," Trump said, arguing that the lawmaker’s district “is considered the Worst in the USA" and "no human being would want to live there." tweet
Cummings is a frequent critic of Trump and has launched several investigations into the Trump administration regarding the Republican president’s finances as well as some White House-related issues, including security clearances.
The latest attack came after Cummings, 68, criticized acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan over border conditions during a committee hearing on July 18.
He also erupted at Trump earlier this month after the president used similar racist language to attack four progressive Democratic congresswomen of color to "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."
The controversial remarks were addressed at Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib Michigan and Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts. Besides Omar, who is from a immigrant Somali family, the three other lawmakers were born in the US.
Continuing his attacks into Sunday, Trump also blasted the Oversight investigation without providing any basis for his claims. Interestingly, the tweets came shortly after Fox News aired a program in which a Republican strategist described Cummings' district as worse than those at the southern border.
Trump has been caught using Fox News as the source for many of his claims in the past.
Cummings hit back at Trump, defending his decision as the head of the House Oversight Committee and as a lawmaker.
"Mr. President, I go home to my district daily," Cummings wrote on Twitter Saturday in response. "Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbors. It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But, it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents." tweet
Sanders, Pelosi react
Trump’s attack on Cummings drew harsh responses from other lawmakers, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Virginia Senator Bernie Sanders taking the center stage.
Pelosi led Democratic legislators in defending Cummings, describing the tweets as "racist attacks."
She described Cummings as “a champion in the Congress and the country for civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague.”
“We all reject racist attacks against him and support his steadfast leadership,” Pelosi wrote. tweet
Sanders said he was shocked that Trump would use such words to describe American cities.
"It's unbelievable that we have a President of the United States who attacks American cities, who attacks Americans," the Vermont senator told CNN.
"Our job is to bring people together, to improve life for all people, not to be, have a racist President who attacks people because they are African Americans.
That is a disgrace and that is why we're going to defeat this President," said Sanders, one of the few Democratic presidential hopefuls who stands a chance to face Trump during the 2020 race for the White House.
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A New York-based author and commentator says acts of infanticide by the Saudi and Israeli regimes continue because they have the support of the United States government.
Riyadh and Tel Aviv have been designated respectively the first and second regimes on a United Nations (UN) list of international child killers. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently submitted the list — the annual Children and Armed Conflict Report — to the UN Security Council, where the US is a permanent member. Author and commentator Naseer al-Omari told Press TV’s The Debate program on Saturday that, owing to Washington’s support for the two |
regimes, “not much” had happened as a result of the UN’s successive condemnations of the acts of bloodshed by Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
The Saudis have even “executed more people and enlisted children in war” as US President Donald Trump’s administration would increase its support for them in the aftermath of every UN measure.
According to the UN list, over the past year, the Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen killed 729 children, while Israel killed 57 kids and injured more than 2,600 across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Most recently, Trump vetoed a congressional move against American arms sales to Saudi Arabia last Wednesday, “allowing the Saudi to have more weapons,” Omari said.
“Make no mistake about it, the Saudi regime and the Israelis are protected by the Trump administration,” he said.
Michael Lane, the North Carolina-based founder of the American Institute for Foreign Policy think tank, who was also a guest on the show, acknowledged that “it’s horrific and it’s grotesque” for any regime’s name to make the UN list.
Asked why the UN measures had failed to stop Riyadh and Tel Aviv’s infanticide, he said, “The United Nations is not the most effective organization in the world.”
He also alleged that the Saudis “are actively taking steps to reduce that number.”
The Saudis have even “executed more people and enlisted children in war” as US President Donald Trump’s administration would increase its support for them in the aftermath of every UN measure.
According to the UN list, over the past year, the Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen killed 729 children, while Israel killed 57 kids and injured more than 2,600 across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Most recently, Trump vetoed a congressional move against American arms sales to Saudi Arabia last Wednesday, “allowing the Saudi to have more weapons,” Omari said.
“Make no mistake about it, the Saudi regime and the Israelis are protected by the Trump administration,” he said.
Michael Lane, the North Carolina-based founder of the American Institute for Foreign Policy think tank, who was also a guest on the show, acknowledged that “it’s horrific and it’s grotesque” for any regime’s name to make the UN list.
Asked why the UN measures had failed to stop Riyadh and Tel Aviv’s infanticide, he said, “The United Nations is not the most effective organization in the world.”
He also alleged that the Saudis “are actively taking steps to reduce that number.”
Middle East Eye quotes Yousef Munayyer, USCPR executive director, in an article covering the responses of Palestinian advocates to H. Res. 246, a non-binding resolution that condemns BDS and is intended to chill speech for Palestinian rights. H. Res. 246 passed the House of Representatives on July 23, with 398 votes for the resolution, 17 against, and 17 abstentions.
Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), rebuked US lawmakers for passing the resolution “as Israel commits war crimes against Palestinians and their soldiers laugh & pose with civilian homes they destroyed”.
Munayyer was referring to the Israeli destruction of nearly a dozen buildings in the Palestinian village of Sur Bahir earlier this week. Those demolitions were widely condemned, with rights groups accusing Israel of committing a war crime.
“What they don’t get is, this is precisely why civil society boycotts continue to grow; the abject failure of govt to hold Israel accountable,” Munayyer wrote on Twitter.
Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), rebuked US lawmakers for passing the resolution “as Israel commits war crimes against Palestinians and their soldiers laugh & pose with civilian homes they destroyed”.
Munayyer was referring to the Israeli destruction of nearly a dozen buildings in the Palestinian village of Sur Bahir earlier this week. Those demolitions were widely condemned, with rights groups accusing Israel of committing a war crime.
“What they don’t get is, this is precisely why civil society boycotts continue to grow; the abject failure of govt to hold Israel accountable,” Munayyer wrote on Twitter.
27 july 2019
A child suffering from malnutrition caused by the Saudi aggression lies on a bed at a treatment center in al-Sabeen Maternal Hospital in the Yemeni capital Sana'a on June 22, 2019
The United Nations has for the third year put Saudi Arabia and its allies in their military campaign against Yemen on the world body's blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed or injured 729 children, nearly half the total child casualties of the year.
The UN chief's report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, also states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israeli regime, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed - 56 by Israeli forces - and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged "Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force".
"I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals," Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres' name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Saudi Arabia and Israel both have exerted pressure in recent years in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
In reaction to the Friday report, Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdadllah Al-Mouallimi claimed that "every child's life is precious" to Riyadh, and questioned the sourcing and accuracy of the report, describing the numbers as "exaggerated."
His claims come as over 80,000 Yemeni children under five years have died as a result of severe malnutrition caused by the Saudi-led coalition's aggression against the people of Yemen, Guterres cited a report as saying earlier this year.
The war that began in March 2015 has so far killed thousands of Yemeni women and children and destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure.
The Yemeni Health Ministry announced in a report on Friday that one Yemeni child is dying of malnutrition every 10 minutes. The report, cited by al-Mayadeen TV, said malnutrition has affected 2.3 million children in Yemen during the past five years.
It also pointed to the outbreak of cholera as a result of the Saudi-led coalition's aggression, saying that children account for 40 percent of the 3,700 people diagnosed with the disease in the war-torn country.
Israel Blacklisted by UN Among Top Child Killers of 2018
The United Nations has, for the third year in a row, put Israel on the world body’s blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, Israel killed 59 Palestinian children during that year.
The UN chief’s report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israel, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed – 56 by Israeli forces – and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged “Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force,” PNN further reports.
“I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals,” Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres’ name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Israel have exerted pressure, in recent years, in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
The United Nations has for the third year put Saudi Arabia and its allies in their military campaign against Yemen on the world body's blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed or injured 729 children, nearly half the total child casualties of the year.
The UN chief's report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, also states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israeli regime, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed - 56 by Israeli forces - and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged "Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force".
"I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals," Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres' name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Saudi Arabia and Israel both have exerted pressure in recent years in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
In reaction to the Friday report, Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdadllah Al-Mouallimi claimed that "every child's life is precious" to Riyadh, and questioned the sourcing and accuracy of the report, describing the numbers as "exaggerated."
His claims come as over 80,000 Yemeni children under five years have died as a result of severe malnutrition caused by the Saudi-led coalition's aggression against the people of Yemen, Guterres cited a report as saying earlier this year.
The war that began in March 2015 has so far killed thousands of Yemeni women and children and destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure.
The Yemeni Health Ministry announced in a report on Friday that one Yemeni child is dying of malnutrition every 10 minutes. The report, cited by al-Mayadeen TV, said malnutrition has affected 2.3 million children in Yemen during the past five years.
It also pointed to the outbreak of cholera as a result of the Saudi-led coalition's aggression, saying that children account for 40 percent of the 3,700 people diagnosed with the disease in the war-torn country.
Israel Blacklisted by UN Among Top Child Killers of 2018
The United Nations has, for the third year in a row, put Israel on the world body’s blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, Israel killed 59 Palestinian children during that year.
The UN chief’s report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israel, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed – 56 by Israeli forces – and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged “Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force,” PNN further reports.
“I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals,” Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres’ name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Israel have exerted pressure, in recent years, in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
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