21 sept 2018
The newly-elected president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Zingiswa Losi, has called on South Africa’s ANC-led government to immediately downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel. Losi - who became the first woman to lead South Africa’s largest trade union federation - made the remarks on Thursday at COSATU’s 13th National Congress in Johannesburg.
In her first public speech after being elected president, Losi reminded delegates that South Africa had withdrawn its ambassador from Tel Aviv indefinitely. She also called on the ANC-led government to be “decisive” and fully implement a resolution made at the ruling party’s December congress that called for the immediate and unconditional downgrade of the South African embassy in Tel Aviv to a liaison office. The resolution was a practical expression of the ANC’s support to the Palestinian people, and a means to pressure Israel to comply with international law and end its occupation of Palestine.
Losi also called on the South African government to do more to “push back against the corrupt advances” that Israel was making at the African Union (AU). Her remarks were a reference to Israel’s attempt at gaining observer status at the AU in an attempt to improve the Netanyahu regime’s relationship with African states with the ultimate aim of influencing their voting at the UN to block resolutions critical of Israel’s occupation.
Palestinian political parties have welcomed Losi’s remarks and COSATU's support.
“Together with the delegates at the COSATU conference, we also call on the South African government to heed the call from the ruling party’s members and to downgrade its diplomatic links with the Zionist apartheid state,” said Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Kasim, in an interview with the Afro-Palestine Newswire Service. Kasim also praised Losi for highlighting Israel’s financial and diplomatic charm offensive in Africa and at the AU.
Palestinian Authority (PA) ambassador to South Africa, Hashem Dajani, attended the COSATU conference, and reiterated the PA leadership's support for the downgrading of diplomatic relations with Israel.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coalition for Palestine (NC4P), an umbrella body representing more than 40 civil society groups in South Africa, Edwin Arrison thanked Losi and COSATU for urging the government to act on their resolution. “This is a way to express the South African people’s strong opposition to Israeli apartheid and its military occupation of Palestine,” Arrison said.
Representing over two million workers, COSATU and its affiliates have expressed consistent solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, and support for boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Israeli state. In 2009, members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban refused to offload a ship that was carrying Israeli goods. In 2010, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) agreed to engage every municipality in South Africa to boycott Israel.
Source: Afro-Palestine Newswire service
In her first public speech after being elected president, Losi reminded delegates that South Africa had withdrawn its ambassador from Tel Aviv indefinitely. She also called on the ANC-led government to be “decisive” and fully implement a resolution made at the ruling party’s December congress that called for the immediate and unconditional downgrade of the South African embassy in Tel Aviv to a liaison office. The resolution was a practical expression of the ANC’s support to the Palestinian people, and a means to pressure Israel to comply with international law and end its occupation of Palestine.
Losi also called on the South African government to do more to “push back against the corrupt advances” that Israel was making at the African Union (AU). Her remarks were a reference to Israel’s attempt at gaining observer status at the AU in an attempt to improve the Netanyahu regime’s relationship with African states with the ultimate aim of influencing their voting at the UN to block resolutions critical of Israel’s occupation.
Palestinian political parties have welcomed Losi’s remarks and COSATU's support.
“Together with the delegates at the COSATU conference, we also call on the South African government to heed the call from the ruling party’s members and to downgrade its diplomatic links with the Zionist apartheid state,” said Hamas spokesperson, Hazem Kasim, in an interview with the Afro-Palestine Newswire Service. Kasim also praised Losi for highlighting Israel’s financial and diplomatic charm offensive in Africa and at the AU.
Palestinian Authority (PA) ambassador to South Africa, Hashem Dajani, attended the COSATU conference, and reiterated the PA leadership's support for the downgrading of diplomatic relations with Israel.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coalition for Palestine (NC4P), an umbrella body representing more than 40 civil society groups in South Africa, Edwin Arrison thanked Losi and COSATU for urging the government to act on their resolution. “This is a way to express the South African people’s strong opposition to Israeli apartheid and its military occupation of Palestine,” Arrison said.
Representing over two million workers, COSATU and its affiliates have expressed consistent solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, and support for boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Israeli state. In 2009, members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban refused to offload a ship that was carrying Israeli goods. In 2010, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) agreed to engage every municipality in South Africa to boycott Israel.
Source: Afro-Palestine Newswire service
20 sept 2018
Cellphone spyware sold by an Israeli security firm is suspected of being used against targets in dozens of countries including the United States, researchers warned on Tuesday, raising concerns and questions about topics ranging from eavesdropping to export control.
Known as “Pegasus,” researchers from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab linked the malware to infections in 45 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K., in addition to dozens of other nations, democratic and otherwise, Washington Times daily has reported.
Sold by NSO Group of Herzliya, Israel, Pegasus is capable of exfiltrating private data from infected cellphones, including passwords, text messages and live voice calls, and has previously been deployed against targets including Mexican journalists and a prominent United Arab Emirates human rights activists, among others.
Citizen Lab researchers scoured the internet for servers associated with Pegasus spyware during a two-year period ending August 2018, in turn discovering 1,091 IP addresses and 1,014 domain names, their the same source added.
Ultimately researchers detected a total of 45 countries “where Pegasus operators may be conducting surveillance operations,” including the U.S., Citizen Lab reported.
“The scope of this activity suggests that government-exclusive spyware is widely used to conduct activities that may be illegal in the countries where the targets are located, Citizen Lab reported. “While some of these infections may reflect usage of out-of-country VPN or satellite Internet service by targets, it is possible that several countries may be actively violating United States law by penetrating devices located within the U.S.”
NSO Group disputed the report in a statement, touting its products as “licensed only to legitimate government agencies for the sole purpose of investigating and preventing crime and terror.”
NSO Group could not immediately be reached for further comment.
At least six of the countries where Citizen Lab detected Pegasus operations have “previously been linked to abusive use of spyware to target civil society,” the report further stated.
Known as “Pegasus,” researchers from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab linked the malware to infections in 45 countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K., in addition to dozens of other nations, democratic and otherwise, Washington Times daily has reported.
Sold by NSO Group of Herzliya, Israel, Pegasus is capable of exfiltrating private data from infected cellphones, including passwords, text messages and live voice calls, and has previously been deployed against targets including Mexican journalists and a prominent United Arab Emirates human rights activists, among others.
Citizen Lab researchers scoured the internet for servers associated with Pegasus spyware during a two-year period ending August 2018, in turn discovering 1,091 IP addresses and 1,014 domain names, their the same source added.
Ultimately researchers detected a total of 45 countries “where Pegasus operators may be conducting surveillance operations,” including the U.S., Citizen Lab reported.
“The scope of this activity suggests that government-exclusive spyware is widely used to conduct activities that may be illegal in the countries where the targets are located, Citizen Lab reported. “While some of these infections may reflect usage of out-of-country VPN or satellite Internet service by targets, it is possible that several countries may be actively violating United States law by penetrating devices located within the U.S.”
NSO Group disputed the report in a statement, touting its products as “licensed only to legitimate government agencies for the sole purpose of investigating and preventing crime and terror.”
NSO Group could not immediately be reached for further comment.
At least six of the countries where Citizen Lab detected Pegasus operations have “previously been linked to abusive use of spyware to target civil society,” the report further stated.
18 sept 2018
A shooting attack by anonymous gunmen targeted on Monday evening Israel’s illegal settlement of Efrat, built on Palestinian land south of Bethlehem.
According to Israel’s Hebrew-speaking Channel 10, sounds of gunshots were heard in Efrat settlement at nightfall.
Israelis residing in the aforementioned location were ordered to stay indoors. No injuries were reported in the alleged shooting.
Israeli army troops have raked through the area in the hunt for the alleged perpetrators, raising suspicions that anti-occupation gunmen might have crept into the settlement.
According to Israel’s Hebrew-speaking Channel 10, sounds of gunshots were heard in Efrat settlement at nightfall.
Israelis residing in the aforementioned location were ordered to stay indoors. No injuries were reported in the alleged shooting.
Israeli army troops have raked through the area in the hunt for the alleged perpetrators, raising suspicions that anti-occupation gunmen might have crept into the settlement.
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak has censured his successor Benjamin Netanyahu for passing corrupt legislation, comparing him to Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, who was overthrown and killed in 1989.
“The moral collapse of Netanyahu has begotten laws whose only purpose is to help the government escape the corruption, bribery and breach of trust affairs it is suspected in,” Barak said at a speech in Tel Aviv, Sunday.
Barak hinted that Netanyahu would face the same fate of Ceausescu, who ruled over Romania with an iron grip, from 1965 until he was overthrown after mass protests against him. He was executed in the same year, along with his wife Elena.
“It’s an expression of moral degradation that is not working for the good of citizens but for submission to a seemingly corrupt leader. This is reminiscent of Elena and Nicolae Ceausescu more than a model society or a light unto the nations,” he said, according to Press TV/Al Ray.
Commenting on Barak, Netanyahu’s Likud Party said, in a statement, that the former prime minister was “inciting murder” against the premier. “He’s simply lost it,” the statement added.
Netanyahu is currently embroiled in three corruption cases, though he has not been indicted.
A number of laws passed recently have been thought to be attempts to protect him, such as a law that will prevent police from publishing recommendations on whether to charge criminal suspects.
Barak, who is thought to have aspirations of returning to political office, has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and urged him to step down in the past, over the corruption probes.
In response to Likud’s charge, Barak hinted, on Twitter, at charges that Netanyahu had engaged in incitement to violence ahead of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, in 1995.
Prior to the assassination, Netanyahu, then only the leader of the extremist Likud party, had accused Rabin of being “removed from Jewish tradition… and Jewish values.” Rabin, in turn, had accused Netanyahu of provoking violence.
“The moral collapse of Netanyahu has begotten laws whose only purpose is to help the government escape the corruption, bribery and breach of trust affairs it is suspected in,” Barak said at a speech in Tel Aviv, Sunday.
Barak hinted that Netanyahu would face the same fate of Ceausescu, who ruled over Romania with an iron grip, from 1965 until he was overthrown after mass protests against him. He was executed in the same year, along with his wife Elena.
“It’s an expression of moral degradation that is not working for the good of citizens but for submission to a seemingly corrupt leader. This is reminiscent of Elena and Nicolae Ceausescu more than a model society or a light unto the nations,” he said, according to Press TV/Al Ray.
Commenting on Barak, Netanyahu’s Likud Party said, in a statement, that the former prime minister was “inciting murder” against the premier. “He’s simply lost it,” the statement added.
Netanyahu is currently embroiled in three corruption cases, though he has not been indicted.
A number of laws passed recently have been thought to be attempts to protect him, such as a law that will prevent police from publishing recommendations on whether to charge criminal suspects.
Barak, who is thought to have aspirations of returning to political office, has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu and urged him to step down in the past, over the corruption probes.
In response to Likud’s charge, Barak hinted, on Twitter, at charges that Netanyahu had engaged in incitement to violence ahead of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, in 1995.
Prior to the assassination, Netanyahu, then only the leader of the extremist Likud party, had accused Rabin of being “removed from Jewish tradition… and Jewish values.” Rabin, in turn, had accused Netanyahu of provoking violence.
13 sept 2018
Sign reads (in Czech): Freedom for Palestine
By: Jennifer Janineh
Israeli news media published, on Thursday, a reports about the Czech Republic’s intention to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, however, it contradicts the Czech Republic’s position in the European Union and its commitment to policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Czech-language news outlets, such as Seznam, Zpravy Aktualne and iDnes, explained the highly publicized issue and offered details concerning the alleged Czech embassy’s opening in Jerusalem.
Sources confirmed that, already in May 2018, discussions took place regarding the opening of “Czech House” in Jerusalem, which was announced to include three institutions, Czech Centre, Czech Tourism and Czech Trade.
Sources stressed that Czech House in Jerusalem is not an alternative for the Czech embassy in Tel Aviv, neither is it in violation of any international laws or resolutions.
According to the sources mentioned above, the pro-Israeli Czech President, Milos Zeman, was promoting the idea of transferring the Czech embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem since April, even before the United States embassy had officially moved.
‘
Zeman called upon European countries and critics of the embassy move, labeling them as “cowards,” adding that “it might not be polite, but it is sincere.”
Zeman continued by saying he hopes that the opening of the Czech House would be “the first step in the plan to move the Czech embassy to Jerusalem.”
However, sources said that the situation will remain as it is, with the Czech Honorary Consulate in Jerusalem and the embassy in Tel Aviv.
The Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, opposed the embassy move endorsed by Zeman and said, in a statement: “We are a small country, but the big countries should be the ones to strive for peace. We have to fight situations, where a conflict is expected to happen and where possible protests or attacks could take place.”
He mentioned the US embassy move and that “it is not a good idea, following evident negative reactions. There is no need to create bigger conflicts in the region.”
Babis also said that the position of the United Nations and the European Union, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is clear, with regard to Jerusalem’s status as capital of both Israel and Palestine, in the future.
Although a specific date for the opening was not set, Zeman’s spokesperson, Jiri Ovcacek, said “The Czech House in Jerusalem will be ceremonially opened by the president during his visit to Israel in November.”
It is noteworthy that this will be Zeman’s first visit to Israel.
Despite the alleged intention of the Czech Republic to move its embassy to Jerusalem, it does not currently plan to follow in United States’ and Guatemala’s footsteps.
Israel emphasized the issue of the transfer of the Czech embassy following Paraguay’s decision to relocate its embassy back to Tel Aviv after its opening in Jerusalem in May, which was a massive step that upset Israel.
Additionally, the Palestinian ambassador to the European Union (EU), Abdul Rahim al-Farra, denied alleged reports that the Czech Republic intends to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
During an interview with the Voice of Palestine radio, al-Farra stressed that, until now, there was no official confirmation regarding this matter, pointing out that there were assurances from the Czech Foreign Ministry that its embassy will not be transferred to Jerusalem.
Al-Farra pointed out that, “the EU, specifically its Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini, called on all EU member states not to move their embassy to Jerusalem because such an act would affect the peace process and the two-state solution.”
By: Jennifer Janineh
Israeli news media published, on Thursday, a reports about the Czech Republic’s intention to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, however, it contradicts the Czech Republic’s position in the European Union and its commitment to policies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Czech-language news outlets, such as Seznam, Zpravy Aktualne and iDnes, explained the highly publicized issue and offered details concerning the alleged Czech embassy’s opening in Jerusalem.
Sources confirmed that, already in May 2018, discussions took place regarding the opening of “Czech House” in Jerusalem, which was announced to include three institutions, Czech Centre, Czech Tourism and Czech Trade.
Sources stressed that Czech House in Jerusalem is not an alternative for the Czech embassy in Tel Aviv, neither is it in violation of any international laws or resolutions.
According to the sources mentioned above, the pro-Israeli Czech President, Milos Zeman, was promoting the idea of transferring the Czech embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem since April, even before the United States embassy had officially moved.
‘
Zeman called upon European countries and critics of the embassy move, labeling them as “cowards,” adding that “it might not be polite, but it is sincere.”
Zeman continued by saying he hopes that the opening of the Czech House would be “the first step in the plan to move the Czech embassy to Jerusalem.”
However, sources said that the situation will remain as it is, with the Czech Honorary Consulate in Jerusalem and the embassy in Tel Aviv.
The Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babis, opposed the embassy move endorsed by Zeman and said, in a statement: “We are a small country, but the big countries should be the ones to strive for peace. We have to fight situations, where a conflict is expected to happen and where possible protests or attacks could take place.”
He mentioned the US embassy move and that “it is not a good idea, following evident negative reactions. There is no need to create bigger conflicts in the region.”
Babis also said that the position of the United Nations and the European Union, on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is clear, with regard to Jerusalem’s status as capital of both Israel and Palestine, in the future.
Although a specific date for the opening was not set, Zeman’s spokesperson, Jiri Ovcacek, said “The Czech House in Jerusalem will be ceremonially opened by the president during his visit to Israel in November.”
It is noteworthy that this will be Zeman’s first visit to Israel.
Despite the alleged intention of the Czech Republic to move its embassy to Jerusalem, it does not currently plan to follow in United States’ and Guatemala’s footsteps.
Israel emphasized the issue of the transfer of the Czech embassy following Paraguay’s decision to relocate its embassy back to Tel Aviv after its opening in Jerusalem in May, which was a massive step that upset Israel.
Additionally, the Palestinian ambassador to the European Union (EU), Abdul Rahim al-Farra, denied alleged reports that the Czech Republic intends to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
During an interview with the Voice of Palestine radio, al-Farra stressed that, until now, there was no official confirmation regarding this matter, pointing out that there were assurances from the Czech Foreign Ministry that its embassy will not be transferred to Jerusalem.
Al-Farra pointed out that, “the EU, specifically its Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini, called on all EU member states not to move their embassy to Jerusalem because such an act would affect the peace process and the two-state solution.”
10 sept 2018
The Trump administration is expected to announce Monday that it will close the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) office in Washington, administration officials said Sunday night, widening a U.S. campaign of pressure amid stalled Middle East peace efforts.
“The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel,” national security adviser John Bolton planned to say in prepared remarks he is scheduled to deliver Monday, according a draft reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
“The Trump administration will not keep the office open when the Palestinians refuse to take steps to start direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel,” he planned to add.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Bolton also planned to threaten to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it moves ahead with investigations of the U.S. and Israel.
Among the responses, Bolton says, the U.S. would ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the country.
The PLO office in Washington has long been the focus of controversy. The Trump administration warned last year that it might close the office after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for the investigation and prosecution of Israeli officials by the ICC and other bodies.
Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian Authority negotiator responded at the time that such a move would undermine prospects for peace. The PLO opened its mission in Washington in 1994 and joined the ICC after receiving observer state status at the U.N. in 2012.
The closure, which Bolton says would be formally announced by the State Department on Monday, follows other steps by the Trump administration that have angered Palestinians, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv and ending funding for the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees.
“The United States supports a direct and robust peace process, and we will not allow the ICC, or any other organization, to constrain Israel’s right to self-defense,” Bolton also planned to say, according to the prepared remarks.
A particular concern has been a request last year by the ICC prosecutor to investigate U.S. military and Central Intelligence Agency personnel who served in Afghanistan for detainee abuse and possibly other war crimes.
In the prepared remarks planned for Monday, Bolton offers an extended critique of the court, which he asserts is rife with abuses, and vows that the U.S. will use “any means necessary” to protect American citizens and those of friendly allies from prosecution by the court.
According to the same source, nations that cooperate with ICC investigations of the U.S. and its allies will also risk losing foreign aid. Other responses include economic sanctions against the court itself. The U.S. also will consider asking the U.N. Security Council to constrain the court’s authority.
“The United States will always stand with our friend and ally, Israel,” national security adviser John Bolton planned to say in prepared remarks he is scheduled to deliver Monday, according a draft reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
“The Trump administration will not keep the office open when the Palestinians refuse to take steps to start direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel,” he planned to add.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Bolton also planned to threaten to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it moves ahead with investigations of the U.S. and Israel.
Among the responses, Bolton says, the U.S. would ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the country.
The PLO office in Washington has long been the focus of controversy. The Trump administration warned last year that it might close the office after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for the investigation and prosecution of Israeli officials by the ICC and other bodies.
Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian Authority negotiator responded at the time that such a move would undermine prospects for peace. The PLO opened its mission in Washington in 1994 and joined the ICC after receiving observer state status at the U.N. in 2012.
The closure, which Bolton says would be formally announced by the State Department on Monday, follows other steps by the Trump administration that have angered Palestinians, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv and ending funding for the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees.
“The United States supports a direct and robust peace process, and we will not allow the ICC, or any other organization, to constrain Israel’s right to self-defense,” Bolton also planned to say, according to the prepared remarks.
A particular concern has been a request last year by the ICC prosecutor to investigate U.S. military and Central Intelligence Agency personnel who served in Afghanistan for detainee abuse and possibly other war crimes.
In the prepared remarks planned for Monday, Bolton offers an extended critique of the court, which he asserts is rife with abuses, and vows that the U.S. will use “any means necessary” to protect American citizens and those of friendly allies from prosecution by the court.
According to the same source, nations that cooperate with ICC investigations of the U.S. and its allies will also risk losing foreign aid. Other responses include economic sanctions against the court itself. The U.S. also will consider asking the U.N. Security Council to constrain the court’s authority.
9 sept 2018
The US administration has urged Paraguay to keep its embassy in Occupied Jerusalem and refrain from revoking a previous decision taken in this regard by the former president.
According to different news reports, US vice president Mike Pence asked Paraguay’s new president Mario Abdo Benitez to uphold his predecessor’s decision to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Paraguay on Wednesday dealt a blow to Israeli’s quest for recognition of the occupied holy city as its capital, which have received some response this year when the US, followed by Guatemala and Paraguay, relocated embassies there.
Most countries do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire holy city.
Pence spoke on Wednesday to president Benitez, who was elected on August 15, and “strongly encouraged” him to follow through with Paraguay’s commitment to move the embassy to Jerusalem “as a sign of the historic relationship the country has maintained with both Israel and the US.”
A statement from Pence’s office did not say how Benitez responded to the US vice president’s request.
Hours after Paraguay announced it would move its embassy back to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering the closure of Israel’s embassy in Paraguay.
The Paraguayan president on Wednesday defended his decision as part of an effort to support “broad, lasting and just peace” between Israelis and Palestinians.
Former Paraguay president Horacio Cartes opened the new embassy in Jerusalem on May 21, just days after the US and Guatemala did.
According to different news reports, US vice president Mike Pence asked Paraguay’s new president Mario Abdo Benitez to uphold his predecessor’s decision to move the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Paraguay on Wednesday dealt a blow to Israeli’s quest for recognition of the occupied holy city as its capital, which have received some response this year when the US, followed by Guatemala and Paraguay, relocated embassies there.
Most countries do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire holy city.
Pence spoke on Wednesday to president Benitez, who was elected on August 15, and “strongly encouraged” him to follow through with Paraguay’s commitment to move the embassy to Jerusalem “as a sign of the historic relationship the country has maintained with both Israel and the US.”
A statement from Pence’s office did not say how Benitez responded to the US vice president’s request.
Hours after Paraguay announced it would move its embassy back to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu responded by ordering the closure of Israel’s embassy in Paraguay.
The Paraguayan president on Wednesday defended his decision as part of an effort to support “broad, lasting and just peace” between Israelis and Palestinians.
Former Paraguay president Horacio Cartes opened the new embassy in Jerusalem on May 21, just days after the US and Guatemala did.
