Global Reviews - October/ November issue

THE

GLOBAL REVIEWS OCT. /NOV. ISSUE

Gaza...the war of shame Emir of Qatar, self-defense does not apply to occupation... and genocide is a disgrace to the international community.

REAL NEWS EVERY MONTH FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

Israeli ground forces inside Gaza as Palestinians take stock after intense overnight bombardment Sderot, Israel CNN

—

Israeli ground forces

hit 150 underground targets in the north

are inside Gaza after entering the enclave

of

the

overnight, as Palestinians experienced what

striking

what

they have described as the most intense round

it

terror

of airstrikes since Israel began its retaliation

tunnels

against Hamas’ October 7 terror attack.

underground

called

and

combat

spaces

Israeli forces “went into the Gaza Strip and

and

killing

expanded

several

Hamas

the

ground

operation

where

infantry, armor and engineer units and artillery

operatives.

with heavy fire are taking part,” Israel Defense

Hagari

Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel

Gazans who had

Hagari said Saturday morning.

moved of

of injured. He said people had brought the

enclave,

said south

Wadi

Gaza,

“The forces are in the field and continue the

a

waterway

fighting,” he added, without giving further

bisecting

details.

center

Hagari’s words confirm the military operation

strip, were in an

has undergone a significant expansion after

area

he

what it had earlier described as two “targeted

a

“protected

raids,” which took place on Wednesday night

space,”

and

and Thursday night. Both those raids saw

would

receive

ground forces withdraw after a few hours.

more food, water

the of

and

the called

medicine

However, it does not appear as though any

today, though he

major ground offensive aimed at seizing and

did not give any

holding significant amounts of the territory

details.

is yet underway. In a fresh call for Gazans to

More

move south, the IDF spoke of an “impending”

million

operation.

live in the enclave,

than

2

people

which spans just Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said his

140 square miles

country had entered “a new phase in the war.”

and is one of the

“Tonight, the ground in Gaza shook,” he said

most

in a statement.

populated places on Earth. For weeks,

dead and the wounded to hospital using

people living in the territory have faced

everything from bikes, cars and donkey

“We attacked above ground and below

Israeli airstrikes and a growing humanitarian

carts.

ground. We attacked terrorist operatives at

situation, with shortages of water, food and

all levels, in all places. The instructions to our

fuel.

Hospitals have lost contact with each other,

forces are clear: the operation will continue

At least 7,650 people have been killed and

he said, after communications networks

until a new order is given.”

more than 19,450 more injured in Israeli

were cut across the strip. “People are

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to

desperate to find some news about their

said Saturday that the goals of this stage of

the latest figures released by the Palestinian

loved ones and their families,” he added.

the war are to destroy Hamas and return the

Ministry of Health in Ramallah, drawn from

more than 200 hostages the militant group

sources in the Hamas-controlled enclave.

densely-

took on October 7 and still holds in Gaza.

Netanyahu confirmed he spoke with family

Al-Dikran said that after a pause of several hours, airstrikes had resumed again in central and northern Gaza, adding that

members of the hostages and said he vowed

Mourning in Gaza

to them that he would exhaust all options to

Gazans mourned the loss of their loved ones

return their loved ones home.

on Saturday following a night of intense

Near the Gaza border, staging grounds once

Israeli airstrikes, with many gathering at

The IDF on Saturday conducted heavy

teeming with hundreds of Israeli tanks,

Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah in

artillery strikes against northern Gaza, with

armored personnel carriers and bulldozers

central Gaza.

multiple explosions heard every minute.

have mostly emptied out when a CNN team

Video captured by CNN shows multiple

visited.

bodies, including those of children, covered

A CNN team on the ground at an Israeli

in white shrouds or thick blankets, placed on

checkpoint

near

returning from the direction of Gaza, back to

the ground in the hospital yard.

witnessed

intense

their forward operating positions.

Dr. Khalil Al-Dikran told CNN the hospital had

explosions and air power. Smoke could also

The IDF said on Saturday that its warplanes

received 22 bodies overnight and hundreds

be seen rising from the enclave. Some of the

CNN

also

observed

2

some

tank

units

artillery fire had continued uninterrupted through the night.

the

strip and

perimeter continuous

explosions were so strong that the impact

Elon Musk said SpaceX’s Starlink satellite

diplomatic sources familiar with the Qatar-

could be felt physically where the team was,

communications network would support

led negotiations to release hostages told CNN

around a kilometer (less than a mile) from

internet

that there has been “significant progress” in

the border.

recognized

The IDF reserve soldiers manning the

besieged enclave.

connectivity relief

for

internationally

organizations

in

the

the talks but issues still remained.

Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s

position told CNN that Friday night was by far the most intense night of bombing.

In

Communications

Israeli troops have cleared out a large

Minister

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and advisor to

said

the

the Qatari Prime Minister, told CNN’s Becky

perimeter around the Gaza Strip, fearing

government “will use all means at its

Anderson on Saturday that the escalation

incoming anti-tank weapons.

disposal to fight this.” In a statement posted

on the ground is making the situation

on X, Karhi wrote there is “no doubt” that the

“considerably more difficult.”

Aid agencies lose contact

response,

Israel’s

Shlomo

Karhi

that

service would be used by Hamas “for terrorist

Communications in the enclave have been

activities.”

severely disrupted, leaving aid agencies out of touch with their staff on the ground.

Qatar and Egypt have been mediating between Israel, the US and Hamas to release

While communications are largely severed

the hostages held by the militant group.

within the territory, according to the local

Four hostages have been freed so far.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO)

telecoms provider Jawwal, those with Israeli

Director-General,

or international SIMs appear to have some

The White House said on Friday it was having

patchy connections.

“active conversations” with Israel about a

Tedros

Adhanom

Ghebreyesus, said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday morning that reports of the intense bombardment are

Fate of hostages remains unclear

“extremely distressing.” He added: “We are

The expanded operation has left families of

humanitarian pause to help get hostages out of Gaza.

still out of touch with our

In

staff and health facilities.

conference, families of

I’m

the hostages said they

worried

about

their

safety.”

a

Saturday

news

told Netanyahu in a meeting

they

would

He said that it is “not

accept

possible”

in return for everyone”

to

evacuate

an

“everyone

patients or find safe shelter

deal,

under such circumstances,

secure the immediate

and the “blackout is also

release of all hostages.

which

would

making it impossible for ambulances to reach the

“We

injured.”

Prime Minister that an

clarified

to

the

immediate exchange of The WHO posted on social

everyone for everyone

media that health workers,

is a deal the families

patients and civilians in

would consider and one

Gaza spent the night “in

that has broad support

darkness

from all of Israel,” family

and

fear”

as

they were “subject to a

representatives

total communication and

in a statement. “Bring

electrical blackout.”

the more than 200 hostages taken to Gaza

said

everyone home now.”

fearful for their loved ones.

Such an agreement would involve the

The organization said hospitals across Gaza are operating at maximum capacity, unable

A group lobbying for the families of Israeli

release

to take in new patients whilst also “sheltering

hostages spoke of “the most terrible of all

Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons.

thousands of civilians.”

nights” as emotions spiked with the IDF’s

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club, a non-

“There are more [people] wounded every

expansion of its ground operation.

governmental organization dedicated to

hour,” the WHO said. “But ambulances

“Anxiety, frustration, and especially enormous

addressing the concerns of Palestinian

cannot reach them in the communications

anger that none of the war cabinet bothered

detainees

blackout. Morgues are full. More than half of

to meet with the families of the hostages

estimates that this amounts to 6,630 people.

the dead are women and children.”

to explain one thing – whether the ground

It

reiterated

humanitarian

a

call

ceasefire,”

for

“immediate adding

that

of

hostages

in

Israeli

in

exchange

detention

for

centers,

operation endangers the well-being of the

On Saturday, Hamas released a statement

229 hostages in Gaza,” said the Hostages and

stating the group was “immediately ready”

Missing Persons Families Forum.

to engage in such a comprehensive trade, though this type of deal would be hugely

safe passage must also be ensured for “desperately needed medical supplies, fuel,

Hagari told reporters on Friday that the IDF

water and food into and across Gaza.”

had notified the families of hostages about

controversial in Israel.

the expanded operations and reiterated the Several United Nations agencies have also

military was “committed to the national task

reported losing contact with their local staff

of returning all hostages.”

in Gaza.

Prior to the expanded ground campaign,

By Amarachi Orie, Zahid Mahmood, Ivana Kottasová, Kareem Khadder and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN 29. October 2023

Palestinian Death Statistics, Doubted by the U.S., Remain a Subject of Controversy The White House and Israel say Hamas is exaggerating the toll, but U.N. experts believe they are likely to be correct and even undercounted

T

massive

U.S. nor Israel have their own tally or a way to

toll for the 50-day war between Israel and

bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip,

independently count the casualties in Gaza.

Hamas in 2014 was 2,310 people according to

the exact scope of Palestinian casualties

The Biden administration says its doubts

the Ministry of Health, 2,251 people according

has become yet another controversy after

about the veracity of Palestinian statistics

to the U.N. and 2,125 people according to an

President Biden questioned statistics published

were triggered by the Oct. 17 blast at the Al

Israeli government investigation. The main

by the Hamas-run Gaza health authorities.

Ahli Hospital in Gaza. The Gaza Ministry of

disagreement was about what proportion of the

The Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry

Health quickly put the number of deaths

victims at that time were made up of civilians.

said Saturday that the death toll has topped

there at 500, later revised to 471, and blamed

7,703,

Israel

hree

weeks

including

into

1,863

Israel’s

women

and

3,195

for

what

it

called

a

“massacre.”

Despite Hamas’s political control in Gaza, many

children, information it says is based on data

of

the

doctors

and

bureaucrats

compiled by hospitals. The United Nations,

The U.S. and independent experts say that

compiling the statistics are not affiliated

which verified and documented deaths in

the explosion in the hospital’s parking lot

with the Islamist movement and the past

previous conflicts in Gaza, says it is unable to do

was most likely caused by a malfunctioning

accuracy of casualty statistics gives credence

so now because of the sheer scope of violence.

Palestinian

rocket

aimed

at

Israel.

U.S.

to current numbers, some officials with the

intelligence

officials

put

the

number

of

U.N. and with nongovernment organizations

Some U.N. officials, however, say the real

fatalities in that incident at the lower end of

operating

number of casualties is likely significantly

100 to 300 people. The Gaza Health Ministry

“We believe that the numbers being reported

in

Palestinian

territories

say.

higher because the health ministry’s tally

says it still stands by its original statistics.

in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories, they may not be perfectly accurate

doesn’t include people still under the rubble. are

not

reliable.

They’re

on a minute-to-minute basis but they grossly

reliable,”

John

Kirby,

National

reflect the level of death and injury on both

strategic

sides of the conflict,” Michael Ryan of the World

people, leaves little doubt that the Israeli

communications, said on Thursday. “I would

Health Organization’s Health Emergencies

airstrikes campaign, launched in response

frankly recommend you don’t choose numbers

Program said at a press conference last week.

to the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7, has

put out by an organization that’s run by a

exacted a steep toll on Palestinian civilians.

terrorist organization.” The U.S. and European

Some 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians,

nations classify Hamas as a terrorist group.

were killed in the Hamas raid on southern

“The

numbers

Voluminous video and photo evidence coming

just

not

out of the coastal enclave, home to 2.1 million

Security

Council

coordinator

for

Israel on Oct. 7, and more than 220 others

The White House said Thursday it doesn’t dispute that thousands of Palestinians have been

In the two other large wars since Hamas seized

were taken to Gaza as hostages, according

killed. A senior Israeli official told the Journal he

control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority

to the Israeli authorities. Four hostages, all

believes “several thousand” Palestinians have

in 2007, however, the overall numbers of the

of them women, have since been released.

died in Gaza, but said that thousands among

Ministry of Health largely aligned with statistics

them were Hamas combatants. Neither the

compiled by the U.N. and Israel. The Palestinian

4

The

Gaza

Ministry

of

Health

numbers

don’t

differentiate

combatants.

But

between the

and

people, terrorists, who are alive today because

current

we decided not to hurt people around them.”

civilians

ministry’s

statistics indicate a much higher proportion

terrorist organization by Israel, a charge it denies.

Al Haq’s team in Gaza tried to do the same

of women and children among the fatalities

The mass displacement of people within

in the first three days of the war, but then

of the continuing Israeli bombing campaign

Gaza—partially as a result of Israeli warnings

largely

than in the 2008-2009 and the 2014 wars.

to evacuate the northern part of the strip—

the

also plays a role in the high number of civilian

attacked, there is no safe place in Gaza,” said

suspended

houses

of

their

our

activities.

“Now

workers

were

field

62%

casualties. Around 1.4 million Gazans have

Shawan Jabarin, the organization’s director.

of the deaths in 2014 and 61% in 2008-

fled their home, with multiple families often

“They are taking care of their families.”

2009, according to U.N. data, they make

crowding in the homes of friends or relatives.

While

adult

males

accounted

for

up only 34% of fatalities in the current

Hospitals contacted by The Wall Street Journal

Ministry

Khalil al Khatab, a surgeon at Al Aqsa Hospital

in Gaza confirmed that they have received

of Health. Israel disputes this breakdown.

in Deir al Balah, said the house of his cousin,

thousands of corpses and said that children

another doctor, was hit on Oct. 24, killing the

account for a large proportion of the victims.

conflict,

according

to

the

Gaza

In response to U.S. questioning, Gaza health

man’s wife, two daughters and teenage son.

authorities on Thursday released the names

“This war is nothing like the previous ones,”

Gaza’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa Hospital,

of the 6,747 dead whose identity healthcare

he said. Their names appeared on the list of

said children made up around 38% of the

workers were able to confirm. A further 281

fatalities released by the Gaza health authorities.

2,241 deaths the hospital reported to health

people remained unidentified at the time of the

authorities through Thursday. At Kamal Adwan

report’s release and were buried in mass graves.

Before the current war, the U.N. in partnership

Hospital, 70% of the roughly 300 deaths it

“We have to document any killed person who

with local human rights groups, verified and

reported so far to local authorities were children.

comes to the hospital. We number them all,”

documented conflict-related fatalities, with the

said Marwan Abusada, a senior surgeon at Al

U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

“Hospitals are overflowing with dead bodies,”

Shifa Hospital in Gaza who is also the director

Affairs publishing a running tally of casualties.

said Zaher Sahloul, president of MedGlobal, a U.S.-

general of international cooperation at the

“It’s nearly impossible at the moment to

based charity that has a team of doctors there.

Palestinian Ministry of Health. “But we still

provide any U.N. verification on a day-to-

have a number of people under the rubble,

day basis,” a UNOCHA spokesperson said.

Maj. Nir Dinar, the IDF spokesman for the

we don’t know how many. We estimate 1,000.”

The mechanism through which Gaza hospitals

international

report the dead, however, remains unchanged.

Palestinian civilians are suffering. “We are

The near-total communications blackout in

press,

didn’t

dispute

that

hitting Hamas and hitting them hard,” he

Gaza, with the severing of mobile phone and

“In the past, there wasn’t a big discrepancy

said. “I don’t deny there are many casualties in

internet connections that began Friday night,

in numbers. There is no reason for us to be

Gaza, and many of them are noncombatants.”

is likely to make the collection and verification

casting doubt on that process in the current

of casualty numbers even more difficult.

context. No one involved in that process has changed,” said a foreign U.N. official

Doctors and residents of Gaza say that the

who has worked closely with Gaza health

current Israeli bombing campaign, with as

authorities. “What changed now is access.”

many as 400 strikes a day, is by far more

“If

intense and indiscriminate than anything

undercounted,”

anything,

the the

dead official

are added.

the Palestinian enclave experienced in the

The senior Israeli official said the IDF, as in the past, warns

civilians

before

past—one explanation for the much higher

The toll of the Gaza war is currently being

proportion of women and children among

investigated by the U.N. Commission on Human

the casualties. The senior Israeli official said

Rights, which will make its findings public at a

that the IDF operates differently now because,

later stage, a spokesman for the commission said.

areas. “If we wanted to

is technically in a state of war. He said the

The history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

IDF continues to respect international law.

is rife with misinformation and deception by

target civilians, you would

unlike in previous conflicts in Gaza, the country

both sides. Last year, the Israeli military initially

a

see

strike

on

100,000

residential

dead,”

he

“During previous aggressions against the Gaza

accused Palestinian militants of killing Al Jazeera

Strip, when they had a specific target, they

journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-

bombed his home. It mostly targeted a specific

American, but months later admitted she

person, resulting in one or two casualties,” said

was most likely shot by an Israeli soldier. In

Raed al Nims of the Palestinian Red Crescent

2002, senior Palestinian leaders accused Israel

Society, an affiliate of the International Red

of killing as many as 1,000 Palestinians in a

Cross and Red Crescent movement and

“massacre” at a refugee camp in Jenin in the

the main provider of emergency services in

West Bank, but a subsequent U.N. investigation

Gaza. Now, he said, the Israeli military is often

said that the clash in the camp resulted in the

striking entire apartment blocks without a

death of 52 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers.

not to hurt people around

Before the current war in Gaza, the U.N. would

them.”

warning, which was common in the past.

The senior Israeli official said the IDF, as in the

join with organizations such as Al Haq, a

past, warns civilians before a strike on residential

Palestinian human-rights organization based in

areas. “If we wanted to target civilians, you

the West Bank, to verify and document conflict-

would see 100,000 dead,” he said. “There are

related deaths. The group is considered a

said. “There are people, terrorists, who are alive today because we decided

By Yaroslav Trofimov, Margherita Stancati and Abu Bakr Bashir 28. October 2023

Israel Deepens a War With Hamas That Has No End in Sight Ground invasion of Gaza starts slowly, in day-by-day approach New war phase will pressure Hamas to free hostages: officials Israel has sent troops and tanks into the

dithering. Just prior to a press conference

recent years, had viewed Hamas, considered

northern Gaza Strip in what it calls the second

Saturday night, he visited families of those

a terrorist organization by the US and the

and longer phase of its war against Hamas, a

kidnapped.

European Union, as a relatively primitive

more cautious approach than what it vowed

Security services have set up a group whose

movement adjusting to its role as ruler of Gaza.

after the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack that

task will be to target every Hamas leader

Now it’s seen as a cunning and vicious militant

killed 1,400 people.

involved in the Oct. 7 attack, officials say.

group that will stop at nothing to kill Israelis

Some have already been killed, according to

and must not be allowed to exist.

Instead of a massive ground invasion, the

the military. This echoes what Israel did after

His failure to have grasped that earlier has

military has started slowly, taking a day-by-

the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics when

come under intense criticism.

day approach based on casualties, concerns

Palestinian

of the conflict spreading to Hezbollah in the

hostage, leading to a number of their deaths.

Intense Bombardment

north and internal political pressures on Prime

Israel sent assassins across the world to take

For the past two weeks, partly due to US and

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The expectation

out those who’d planned and carried out that

European pressure, Israel has limited itself to

is for the campaign to last anywhere from

attack.

intensive bombardment from the air, sea and

six weeks to six months, according to several

Another goal that is being widely discussed

artillery, leading to the deaths of thousands

officials.

is that Israel will not return the full Gaza Strip

of Palestinians, including some top Hamas

The goal, according to officials, is distinct from

to whoever ends up ruling in place of Hamas.

military leaders.

previous conflicts with Gaza, when the plan was

It plans to create a buffer zone to prevent any

Israel Has Vowed to Destroy Hamas

to leave Hamas damaged but still standing.

repeat attack, according to several officials.

Iran backs the militant group, which rules Gaza,

Now, the government wants to destroy it as an

“We don’t want to occupy and control two

and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

organization and ensure Gaza is no longer a

million Palestinians,” Yadlin said. “If we want

Israeli officials say in the coming week, they

source of anti-Israeli violence, said the officials,

kibbutzim and towns in the western Negev to

will “increase dramatically” the amount of aid

who asked not to be identified discussing

come back, we need a buffer zone.”

allowed into Gaza from Egypt, the army said

sensitive issues.

Netanyahu is coming under growing internal

on Sunday. “The amount will be much higher

How realistic that is remains unclear, and the

pressure to resign because of the security failure

in the next few days,” Colonel Elad Goren told

US and other allies are pressing Israel to be

ahead of Oct. 7 and his own unwillingness to

reporters on a conference call. He also said

more specific about its aims, as well as sketch

accept personal responsibility. But so far there’s

Israel has restored water supplies to southern

out a vision for what happens next.

little evidence he will.

Gaza, and the coastal strip has no shortage

More than a million Gazans are displaced in

Overnight, he deleted a controversial social

of food while hospitals have access to fuel to

what has been called a humanitarian disaster,

media post in which he said he hadn’t been

generate power.

while international aid is only trickling in.

warned by security chiefs about an impending

Yet many in Gaza, where power and internet

According to the United Nations refugee

Hamas attack and placed responsibility with

access are minimal, have given a very different

agency there, its warehouses and distribution

them. He later apologized for the post.

account, saying life has turned hellish.

centers are being ransacked as civil order

He, along with many other Israeli leaders in

begins to unravel.

The decision to embark on a ground invasion does suggest a shift of focus away from negotiating over hostages, of which about 230 were taken by Hamas as part of the Oct. 7 incursion. It also indicates a belief that Iranian backed Hezbollah will content itself with brief exchanges rather than all-out combat, which would open up a battle on two fronts.

The sense had been that Hamas was trying to buy time, officials say, aiming to release just a couple of hostages per week while demanding an extensive ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Among the hostages are small children and the elderly. Many Israelis say getting them all back should be the only priority. But Netanyahu says the ground operation will advance a hostage release by pressuring Hamas leaders to stop

6

gunmen

took

Israeli

athletes

By Ethan Bronner 29. October 2023

Netanyahu declares it is ‘time for war’ as Israel hails hostage release Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a ceasefire

government.”

Remus Aloni, said his heart “nearly stopped

in Gaza, declaring “this is a time for war”, as

It is thought likely that the three women would

beating” when he saw her on television. He

he hailed the rescue of a hostage as evidence

have appeared in the video under duress. The

appealed to the Red Cross to visit the hostages

that Israel’s military offensive can free Israeli

Geneva conventions prohibit the taking of

and asked Qatar, which has mediated with

captives while delivering crushing blows to

hostages.

Hamas, to help bring them home. “I’d like to say

Hamas.

The 76-second clip showed the women seated

to Danielle and Sharon – girls, we see you. We

congratulated

together in plastic chairs in front of a tiled wall,

love you. We hear you. We are thinking about

the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and security

facing the camera. They bore no visible signs of

you every minute, every second.”

agency Shin Bet for freeing Ori Megidish, an

injury.

army private, but Israeli joy was tempered by

Only Aloni, seated in the centre, spoke. Gazing

The mother of Kirsht said she worried that her

a Hamas video of three other captives that

directly at the camera, she said they had been

daughter appeared without her glasses. “She

remain in captivity.

in captivity for 23 days, suggesting the video

needs her glasses. She cannot see anything.”

Megidish was freed on Sunday night, three

was filmed on Sunday or Monday, as the death

She appealed to Netanyahu to do everything

weeks after she was abducted with more

toll in Gaza from Israel’s bombardment passed

possible to free the hostages.

than 220 other hostages, as Israel escalated

8,000, according to the Hamas-run health

its ground operation in Gaza. After a medical

ministry.

Earlier

check declared her healthy she was reunited

Addressing Netanyahu directly, Aloni accused

Jerusalem for an “empty beds” installation that

with her family, giving Israelis a rare image of

Netanyahu’s administration of leaving her

placed 239 beds and bassinets – representing

joy.

community defenceless during the Hamas

the estimated number of hostages – at Safra

Netanyahu said the army’s advance through

attack. “We are getting punished for your

Square.

Gaza opened opportunities to free hostages,

political, national neglect,” she said. “Nobody

which Hamas would do only under pressure, he

came. Nobody heard us.”

Yael Moshe, 48, held a placard of her mother,

told a news conference. “This creates pressure.

She said there was supposed to be a ceasefire.

Adina Moshe, 72, who was abducted from a

We’re committed to getting all the hostages

“We are innocent citizens. Citizens who pay

kibbutz. “She has a heart condition but a strong

back home. We think that this method stands

taxes to the state of Israel. You want to kill us all.

spirit,” said Moshe. She worried about the IDF

a chance.”

You want to kill us all using the IDF.”

offensive in Gaza. “My stomach hurts. I don’t

She pleaded for a prisoner exchange. “Let

want to think about it.”

Calls for a ceasefire meant asking Israel to

their citizens go, let their prisoners go. Free

Moshe favoured emptying Israel’s prisons

surrender to terrorism and barbarism, the

us. Free all of us. Let us return to our families

of Palestinians to get the hostages back.

prime minister said. “That will not happen. The

now!” At the end she screamed “now” several

“Whatever it takes, do it. After that the

Bible says that there is a time for peace and a

times. Trupanov and Kirsht remained silent and

government can do what it wants.”

time for war. This is a time for war.” He called

largely avoided looking at the camera.

Hamas militants “monsters” and said Israel

Netanyahu called the video “cruel psychological

Relatives of other hostages also endorsed a

would continue to pursue them.

propaganda” and sent a message to the

swap, saying once the hostages were freed

women: “Our hearts are with you and the other

Israel would have a free hand to strike Hamas.

captives.”

“Let’s get them out, then we can take revenge

government’s claim that it could simultaneously

Aloni was kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz

for the massacre,” said Eyal Mor.

wage war and free hostages. However, many

with her six-year-old daughter, Emilia, and the

hostage relatives favour accepting a Hamas

family of her twin sister Sharon Aloni Konio.

The

The

Israeli

rescue

prime

of

minister

Megidish

bolstered

the

offer to swap them for about 5,000 Palestinians, including Islamist militants, in Israeli prisons.

The Israeli government has rejected the offer.

The strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, said if there was a proposal to release the hostages the government would consider a “temporary pause” in hostilities to extract them safely.

Hamas’s

military

wing

ratcheted

up

the

pressure by releasing a video of three hostages – Danielle Aloni, Rimon Kirsht and Elena Trupanov – who were kidnapped on 7 October during a Hamas onslaught that killed more than 1,400 people in southern Israel.

The accompanying video description said: “A number of Zionist prisoners held by al-Qassam send a message to Netanyahu and the Zionist

At a press conference in Tel Aviv her father,

on

Monday

relatives

gathered

in

Rory Carroll 30. October 2023

A vision for the Palestinians after the war

A

former chief in Gaza sets out his plan

reunify the Palestinian territories after more

Responding to rumours that he may be Israel’s

He is often mentioned as a possible

than a decade of infighting. After that he

choice to run Gaza after the war, he rejects the

future leader of the Palestinians. But in a

envisages parliamentary elections, based on a

suggestion that he would come in to clean up

lengthy discussion with The Economist from

Palestinian state with, at that point, undefined

the mess once the fighting ends.

his home in Abu Dhabi on October 27th

borders.

And yet he firmly sets out his credentials for

Muhammad Dahlan, a former security chief for the Palestinian Authority (pa) from Gaza,

All Palestinian political factions should be

leadership; he knows Gaza well and has spent

denied he wanted the role. In the interview,

allowed to participate, including Hamas

40 years fighting for the Palestinian cause,

his first with the Western press since Hamas,

(fears of a Hamas victory have been one of

but he also claims to know the Israelis. He

the Islamist group that runs Gaza, attacked

Israel’s main reasons for blocking Palestinian

has become a close adviser to Muhammad

Israel on October 7th, Mr Dahlan did, however,

elections in recent years). Even after this

bin Zayed, the powerful ruler of Abu Dhabi,

lay out his vision for what should come after

war it would be impossible to govern Gaza

in recent years. He claims to have channelled

the war for Gaza. It was one of surprising hope,

without its consent, he argues: “Hamas will not

around $50m a year from the uae into Gaza.

amid the horrors of the fighting.

disappear.” He believes that Arab states such

He has also built a network of support in the

Born in an impoverished refugee camp in

as Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the

West Bank’s refugee camps.

the south of the Gaza Strip, Mr Dahlan rose

United Arab Emirates (uae) could support such

through the ranks of Yasser Arafat’s Fatah

a body. This Palestinian state should then be

To many, the Palestinian national movement

movement, and spent much of the 1980s

internationally recognised, including by Israel.

has never looked in worse shape than in the days since Hamas’s attack, and Israel’s

in Israeli prisons where he learned to speak fluent Hebrew. He was the Palestinian national

More immediately Mr Dahlan, who has

retaliation. The long-standing divisions

security adviser when the pa lost control of

recently returned from Egypt and has

between the leaderships in the West Bank and

Gaza to Hamas in 2007. He has connections

close ties with Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s

in Gaza have only worsened, and international

on all sides of the conflict. He has enemies

president, pours scorn on the idea of allowing

backers of the pa have announced reviews of

in Fatah—notably among the inner circle

refugees into the Sinai peninsula as a way to

its funding. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas

of Mahmoud Abbas, the pa’s embattled

relieve the crisis in Gaza. “Who is going to take

and the pa seems weaker than ever.

and ageing president. He was convicted of

this historical responsibility to be blamed by

corruption in absentia by a Palestinian court in

the Arab population for helping the Israelis to

It would be easy to argue that the Palestinians

2016. But he has plenty of friends too. And he

displace the Palestinians?” he says, noting that

are further away than ever from a state of their

grew up in the Khan Younis refugee camp in

the mass displacement of Palestinians into

own. Yet Mr Dahlan is surprisingly hopeful. He

southern Gaza alongside much of the current

Egypt would create serious national-security

sees an opportunity for the Palestinian cause

leadership of Hamas so can talk to the Islamist

issues for the government in Cairo.

even in the middle of war. The last month has changed things hugely for the Palestinians, he

group. He also speaks warmly of his relations A parliamentary system as envisaged by Mr

says. “Three months ago there was zero hope.

Dahlan would yield a prime minister to lead

Who was mentioning the Palestinian cause

Mr Dahlan rubbishes the suggestion that

the Palestinians. That would mean doing

three months ago? Nobody… Now everybody is

once the war ends any one individual

away with the presidency currently filled by

talking about our suffering.”

could be shipped in to run Gaza. Instead he

Mr Abbas. Mr Dahlan is in favour of such a

suggests a two-year transitional period with

shift. It is an “illusion” that any one man can

an administration run by technocrats in Gaza

solve the Palestinian issue, he insists: “The

and the West Bank. That could, he imagines,

time of the heroes passed away with Arafat.”

with some senior Israeli figures.

8

The Economist 30. October 2023

What Russia’s budget reveals about the war in Ukraine

O

n a typical day Tambov Bread Factory,

Spending on weapons, ammunition and other

squeezing government revenues. gdp growth

400km (250 miles) south of Moscow,

military kit has helped to prop up Russia’s

may also fall short of expectations. The finance

produces 30 tonnes of bread in 60 varieties.

economy in the face of sanctions by Western

ministry has pencilled in 2.3% for 2024, more

Lately, though, the plant has been churning

governments. Industrial production is on

than double the imf’s forecast.

out more than just baked goods. According

course to grow by 4% in 2023. Retail sales are

to Russia-1, a state-owned television channel,

up by double digits. Government finances

Even if the government can generate enough

Alexander Rudik, the firm’s boss, received a

are relatively healthy, too. After recording

revenue to finance its war machine, the long-

request from the Russian military to retool

a deficit of 1.8trn roubles in January, the

term economic outlook is bleak. A devalued

his assembly line last year. Today the bakery

government has kept its budget balanced

rouble makes imports more expensive, driving

assembles 250 military drones per month.

for the remainder of the year thanks to a 26%

up inflation and requiring the central bank to

Although Tambov’s “drone bakery” can be

jump in non-oil and gas revenues. “In the third

keep interest rates high, stifling investment.

dismissed as propaganda by Russia’s state-

quarter of this year we had a budget surplus

The Bank of Russia’s key interest rate is 15%.

controlled media, it nevertheless speaks to the

of over 660bn roubles,” Vladimir Putin boasted

Although higher defence spending will boost

militarisation of the Russian economy, which

this month.

growth in the short term, it will also divert resources from education, health care and

is gearing up for years of fighting in Ukraine.

The country’s latest budget, passed by the

But the fiscal outlook rests on shaky

other public services while crowding out

State Duma, Russia’s parliament, on October

assumptions. The draft budget assumes that

private investment. Higher taxes will constrain

26th, will boost defence spending in 2024 by

oil and gas revenues will increase by more

growth further.

nearly 70% to 10.8trn roubles ($115bn)—nearly

than a quarter in 2024 to 11.5trn roubles, on

a third of total expenditure and almost three

the expectation that Brent crude will average

Russia is shifting to a long-term war economy.

times what had been forecast in 2021. Military

$85 per barrel and Urals crude $70. If oil prices

But, according to Mr Rudik, the “drone bakery”

outlays—on equipment, salaries and payments

drop, revenues will come in below target.

is also preparing for peacetime. Tambov’s

to the families of soldiers killed in battle—will

The budget also assumes that the rouble will

drones will keep flying, he told Russia-1, to

be three times higher than spending on

average roughly 90 to the dollar in 2024. If

deliver bread to customers.

education, health care and the environment

the currency appreciates, however, earnings

combined, and will account for 6% of gdp.

on oil and gas exports will fall in rouble terms,

The Economist 31. October 2023

Macho chaos revealed The Covid Inquiry is supposed to be

Lee Cain’s criticisms about a ‘lack of diversity’.

of power fall apart in the way it did in 2020 – or

uncovering the lessons that need to be

Her evidence suggests that ‘the lack of

more usefully, how could that be prevented

learned from Britain’s handling of the

women’s voices in decision-making’ meant

from happening in future? There will be a

pandemic. So far this week, it has uncovered

issues such as domestic abuse and abortion

different leader with a new set of flaws and

a lot of swearing and people who hate one

were given insufficient attention during the

different advisers with their own tendencies

another. Today, one of the subjects of the

pandemic.There was an overconfidence that

to overlook. How will the machine work better

angry swearing, Helen MacNamara, gave

produced a ‘superhero bunfight culture’ which

next time around?

quietly devastating evidence to the inquiry.

did not get the best out of staff. This included

Speaking of machines working better –

This is the former deputy cabinet secretary

Matt Hancock pretending to be a batsman

possibly too well – the AI summit is under

who Dominic Cummings said he wanted to

while reassuring her that he was ‘loving’ his

way, with Rishi Sunak announcing a ‘Bletchley

‘handcuff and escort’ from Downing Street. In

work.

declaration’ from 28 different countries

many ways, it wasn’t a surprise. It won’t have

None of this is a surprise. But it is still potent.

on the risks of AI. He presumably wants

changed anyone’s impression of the way the

The Covid Inquiry appears to be a bit of a soap

to add this declaration to his mantlepiece

government worked in 2020. The overriding

opera at the moment – one that could only

of achievements, including the Windsor

impression was one of dysfunction, lack of

be broadcast after the watershed. But when it

Framework. But the Covid Inquiry is

planning, and machismo in Downing Street.

comes to report on this module, it will surely

dominating the headlines and will do for

As James Heale observes, MacNamara and

have to consider how this atmosphere and

months. Every day that it leads the news

Cummings aren’t exactly pals, but they did

cognitive disconnect where even highly senior

is another day voters are reminded of the

end up corroborating much of one another’s

women were disregarded by men could be

incompetence of a recent iteration of the

accounts.

prevented in future. An obvious lesson might

Conservative government. Sunak has refused

She also suggested – as everyone who has

be that political parties shouldn’t elect as

to burn Johnson so far, recognising that

given evidence this week has – that Boris

their leaders people who were manifestly not

sections of his own party would not forgive

Johnson didn’t take Covid seriously enough,

suited to national crises like global pandemics

him for that. But will the electorate really

reporting a ‘jovial tone’ from the former

– though given Johnson won the 2019 general

be able to tell the difference, even with a

prime minister. Johnson, she says, was ‘very

election because he was up against an even

‘Bletchley Declaration’ to brandish?

confident that the UK would sail through’ and

more unsuitable would-be prime minister in

the atmosphere in meetings was ‘confident

the form of Jeremy Corbyn, that might be a

and macho’ – comments which chime with

difficult lesson to teach. How could the centre

The Spectator 01. November 2023

What happens to Gaza the day after the war ends?

A reformed Palestinian Authority or a multinational force have been mooted as solutions for security in the territory, but both proposals have met resistance When Antony Blinken arrived in the Middle

2007 in a bloody battle after losing legislative

Abderahman Salaheldin for instance has

East on his most recent visit, one of the US

elections in 2006. Israel unilaterally left Gaza

proposed a multinational force could enter

secretary of state’s aims was to lift some of the

in 2005.

Gaza to collect all weapons held by all

fog over what happens to Gaza in the war’s

Blinken told a US Senate hearing last week

Palestinian factions there. “The mission of this

aftermath, but he is meeting resistance both

that it would “make the most sense” for an

force will be for a transitional period of two

from Israel and Arab states.

“effective and revitalised Palestinian Authority

years until a Palestinian police force from the

Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said

to have governance and ultimately security

Gaza Strip is formed, trained and equipped

on Saturday at a press conference alongside

responsibility for Gaza”. But he added: “If we

to assume the tasks of maintaining security,”

Blinken: “What happens next? How can we

cannot do that, there are other temporary

he said. That mission may try to have the

even entertain what will happen in Gaza when

arrangements that may include a number of

authority of a UN security council resolution,

we do not know what kind of Gaza will be

other countries in the region. It may include

but that would require UN unanimity.

left after this war is done? Are we going to be

international agencies that help provide

But Israel, with its hostility to the United

talking about a wasteland? Are we going to

security and governance.”

Nations, would oppose any UN-led

be talking about a whole population reduced

At a briefing on Saturday a senior White

peacekeeping force, leaving a more realistic

to refugees? Simply, we do not know – we do

House official showed the US determination

option of an ad hoc multinational force. This

not have all the variables to even start thinking

to make the Palestinian Authority its partner

could either have an Arab component or

about that.”

for peace, saying that steps must be taken to

something similar to the Multinational Force

The tentative US proposal is for a reformed

increase its authority, including ending Israel’s

and Observers peacekeeping body that

Palestinian Authority, dominated by the

withholding of funding for it. “Hamas is the

supervises the implementation of the security

secularist Fatah, which administers the

enemy of the Palestinian Authority – that is our

provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace

West Bank, to come back to Gaza. But this is

opinion,” the official said.

treaty. None of the 13 participating nations in

rejected by Israel’s right.

In a recent interview with the Guardian,

MFO are from the region.

For instance, the Israeli finance minister,

the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister,

Arab states may be willing again to pay for

Bezalel Smotrich, in a weekend interview

Mohammad Shtayyeh, ruled out going

the cost of Gaza’s reconstruction, but not go

on Israel’s Channel 12, rejected US advice to

into Gaza to replace Hamas without a

as far as to put troops on the ground to police

leave Gaza once the war ends. He said: “The

comprehensive agreement that includes the

radicalised and shattered Palestinians.

day after, the most important thing is that

West Bank and the birth of a Palestinian state.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has

there will be no Hamas in Gaza, and there will

Fatah fears that if it took over Gaza without

suggested expanding the role of the existing

be operational control by the Israel Defence

a clear political horizon it would be seen as

anti-Islamic State coalition, but that has so far

Forces for years.” He added: “It’s not like we’re

complicit in Israeli and US violence, once again

found few takers.

going to destroy Hamas and another body will

being seen as Israel’s security sub-contractor.

In parallel with setting up an interim

come along.”

Brian Katulis, from the Middle East Institute,

administration in Gaza, the US is once again

Equally, Prof Jacob Nagel, a former national

has suggested that some of the exercises for

cranking up talk of a long-term solution based

security adviser to the Israeli prime minister,

constructing a “day after” regional security

around two states living side by side.

Benjamin Netanyahu, has insisted Israel

partnership to go into Gaza “sound like

Spain has offered to hold a successor to the

cannot risk relinquishing security control

fantasy land because currently Arab states

Madrid conference of 1991 that led to the Oslo

of Gaza. “No matter which entity will take

simply do not see eye to eye with America

accords. The Arab League wants a decisive

responsibility for Gaza’s civil affairs, Israel will

due to its support for the way the war is being

role. The UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will not

be the full security authority. The entirety of

conducted”.

raise the billions required to rebuild Gaza yet

the Gaza Strip, especially Gaza City, will be

The eventual realistic options available to

again unless there is serious commitment to a

demilitarised and will not contain tunnels,

the international community for the future

political settlement.

weapons or the ability to produce weapons.

governance of Gaza will depend in part on

All this assumes that the US can meet its

“All goods that enter Gaza will be completely

how Israeli politics responds to its trauma.

objective of Israel destroying Hamas at a

monitored by Israel, and Israeli security forces

Polls have shown personal support for

morally and diplomatically acceptable price.

will be able to enter Gaza anytime, anywhere,

Netanyahu draining away, with the main split

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former US

to ensure the removal of any potential threat

over whether he should resign immediately

state department official with long Middle

to Israel.”

or later. A poll by the Lazar Institute for the

East experience, told a Middle East Institute

Even though Hamas and Fatah have

Israeli daily Maariv this week found support for

seminar last week that Israel may yet find this

different stances on Israel’s future – Hamas

Benny Gantz, the former army chief co-opted

military solution elusive. “The tough questions

advocates Israel’s destruction – Israel sees little

into an emergency war cabinet, on 49%, and

are getting louder now. What does success

distinction between the two groups, pointing

Netanyahu on 27%. If Israeli politics did go

look like? Although we have the phrase

to statements made by Fatah political bureau

through a step-change, some of the options

eradicating Hamas, most of us do not believe

members welcoming the 7 October attacks by

for an interim multinational force in Gaza

that is possible.”

Hamas that has left 1,400 Israelis dead.

become more feasible.

Fatah was pushed out of Gaza by Hamas in

The respected former Egyptian ambassador

10

By Patrick Wintour 5. November 2023

Arab leaders must walk the talk on Palestine Meek words of condemnation will not stop the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The response of Arab governments to Israel’s

Israel believes that the Arab states are

But that has proven shortsighted as neither

war on Gaza, like their response to its previous

too divided, impotent and indifferent to

Israel nor the United States can or is willing to

four wars on the besieged Palestinian

Palestinian suffering to respond adequately.

guarantee their security.

enclave, has been feeble and flimsy, to say

It is not wrong, alas.

the least. But unlike Israel’s past assaults, this

Official Arab support for the Palestinian

Today, these regimes tacitly blame Iran and

unravelling genocide – if not stopped – will

cause has persistently waned over the years.

Hamas for the ongoing escalation in Gaza that

have dangerous repercussions for the entire

It started with Egyptian President Anwar

is meant to undermine their new partnerships

Arab world.

Sadat’s decision to sign a peace treaty with

with Israel and drag them into a regional war.

Israel in 1979. Three years later, no one tried

Indeed, government-associated preachers,

Caught by surprise, Arab leaders sprung into

to stop the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, which

journalists and pundits in countries like Egypt,

action only after the Arab public made it clear

expelled the Palestine Liberation Organization

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

it would not tolerate Israeli atrocities against

(PLO) from the country and paved the way for

have condemned what they consider to be

Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians. Although

the emergence of Hezbollah in Lebanon and

Hamas’s attempts inspired by Iran to push the

Palestine has been and remains the foremost

Hamas in Palestine.

region into war, inflicting unbearable suffering on the Palestinian people.

Arab issue, speaking up is all they have done, mostly in babble and cliches.

In the following four decades, Arab regimes continued to show less and less interest in

But such positions have not swayed Arab

In their Arab League meeting in Cairo on

rallying behind the Palestinian cause, as the

public opinion. Wherever they have been

October 11, Arab foreign ministers condemned

Arab world was ravaged by multiple wars,

allowed to, Arabs have taken to the streets

the killing and targeting of civilians “on

including the Iraq-Iran conflict and the Iraq

en masse to protest against Israel’s atrocities

both sides”, equating the occupied and the

invasion of Kuwait, two US-led Gulf wars, as

and to call for an international intervention to

occupiers, a Palestinian resistance group

well as multiple civil wars following the 2011

stop the mass killing of Palestinian civilians.

and the Israeli occupation army. They spoke

Arab Spring revolutions.

Protest may turn into mass upheaval that can threaten regional stability if no action is taken

vaguely about the need for peace, as Israel set off to re-enact the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe)

Today, Arab leaders may be willing to speak

As Israel continues to decimate Gaza and

with another round of violent ethnic cleansing.

out for Palestine, but few are ready or capable

commit massacres of Palestinian children,

The bombing of al-Ahli hospital on

of walking their talk. Those with the means to

women and men, its Arab partners

October 17, in which some 470 Palestinians

influence events do not mean what they say,

must reconsider their normalisation and

were massacred, enraged the Arab and

and the few who mean what they say lack the

cooperation agreements before they are

international public, forcing the Arab regimes

means to follow through.

forced to do so under heavy public pressure.

to react with a bit more resolve.

Truth be told, Arab leaders have generally

This de-normalisation process must start

A few days later, Arab foreign ministers

been at odds with Israel as a divisive colonial

with the Palestinian Authority itself, whose

succeeded in lobbying UN member states

enterprise in their midst, but they have

insistence on maintaining relations with

to pass a United Nations Generally Assembly

also been indifferent to the plight of the

Israel has allowed it to deepen its military

resolution condemning both the October

Palestinians, just as they have been towards

occupation and accelerate the theft of

7 attacks and Israel’s atrocities and calling

the suffering of their citizens.

Palestinian land.

humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of

In fact, some regimes have treated their

It is high time for the regime of President

hostilities”.

people almost as badly as Israel has treated

Mahmoud Abbas to sever relations with the

the Palestinians. Many have spoken for

Israeli government and start protecting its

The overwhelming support for the resolution,

Palestinian rights only because that has given

civilians from the Israeli army and settlers

albeit watered-down and non-binding, has

them a semblance of legitimacy in the eyes of

wreaking havoc in the West Bank.

demonstrated Israeli isolation within the

their people.

for an “immediate, durable and sustained

Arab leaders must come together to end the

international community. But the Israeli authorities ignored it altogether, clearly moved

Arab impotence has opened the way for other

genocide in Gaza, come what may. Because

by the principle of “the world says what it

regional players, Iran and Turkey, to flex their

only by uniting and speaking in one voice in

wants, Israel does what it must”.

muscles and expand their influence at Arab

favour of Arab and Palestinian rights would

expense, creating another layer of regional

they be able to deter Israeli aggression and

They nonchalantly proceeded to launch a

complexity and division. Iran’s deepening

foreign interference in Arab affairs.

devastating land invasion of the Gaza Strip,

influence and reckless policies in a number

cutting off telecommunications in the territory

of Arab countries have pushed some frantic

for 36 hours and sowing even more death and

regimes to openly ally themselves with Israel

destruction.

in return for greater American support.

By Marwan Bishara 30.October 2023

How the tiny Arab state of Qatar became indispensable in talks with Hamas

T

he small Persian Gulf state of Qatar is

poly over that relationship, has a monopoly

In the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings,

once again front and center in global

over that conflict because it can speak to both

Qatar fell out with some of its Arab neighbors

diplomacy, this time for its efforts to mediate

sides in a way that no other player in the world

after it supported the protesters that sought to

deals to free hostages taken by Hamas during

can.”

overthrow the regimes in several Arab nations.

Ties further deteriorated when Saudi Arabia,

its October 7 attacks in Israel, as well as The gas-rich monarchy has maintained a

Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt

relationship with Hamas while being one of

severed diplomatic ties with Qatar in mid-2017,

On Wednesday, Qatar brokered a deal

the US’ closest allies in the region. Meanwhile,

accusing the country of supporting terrorism,

between Israel, Hamas and Egypt, in

it has also kept back-channel contacts with

which Qatar repeatedly denied. It took years

coordination with the United States, to

Israel. David Barnea, head of Israel’s intelli-

for the countries to patch up relations.

release foreign nationals and critically injured

gence agency Mossad, was in Qatar over the

In 2012, it allowed Iran-backed Hamas to esta-

Palestinian civilians from Gaza to Egypt,

weekend to discuss efforts to get hostages

blish a political office in Doha, which remains

according to sources familiar with the talks.

released, three sources familiar with the talks

operative.

The agreement was separate from any

told CNN.

evacuate foreign nationals from Gaza.

That relationship has made Qatar an impor-

hostage negotiations, the source added.

At least 110 foreign passport holders left Gaza,

For now, the Hamas-Qatar relationship

tant mediator with Hamas during its conflicts

according to officials on the Palestinian side of

appears to be paying off. In addition to the

with Israel.

the Rafah border crossing. Al-Arish Hospital in

Palestinian civilians and foreign nationals

Qatar also pays public sector salaries in Gaza,

Egypt also began receiving injured Palesti-

allowed to leave Gaza on Wednesday, four

part of a $30 million per month stipend for

nians who crossed from Gaza, according to

hostages held by Hamas – two Israelis and

families and fuel for electricity, according to

Al-Qahera news.

two American-Israelis – have also been freed

Reuters.

through Qatari and Egyptian mediation.

Qatar finds itself in a delicate diplomatic

Israel has acknowledged Qatar’s efforts, with

It has maintained close relations with Western

position, one that experts say has so far acted

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi

nations, becoming an increasingly important

in its benefit, making it an indispensable

saying the Gulf state has become “an essential

energy supplier as one of the world’s biggest

ally to Washington. But some have said that

party and stakeholder in the facilitation of

gas producers and is a major arms buyer from

Qatar’s relationship with Hamas may become

humanitarian solutions.”

the US. It has for decades been home to a giant US air base and was declared a Major

a liability. “(Qatar’s) relationship with Hamas has been

“Qatar’s diplomatic efforts are crucial at this

Non-NATO Ally by the Biden administration

a key component of the mediation strategy,”

time,” Hanegbi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

last year.

said Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at

What is the nature of Qatar’s relationship with

But Doha was also one of the first Gulf Arab

King’s College London who focuses on Gulf

Hamas?

nations to establish diplomatic relations with

states. “It’s a place where Qatar has a mono-

12

Israel, in 1996, breaking a long-held taboo in

the region (it severed ties after Israel invaded

Iranian funds.

bit of a reality check.”

Gaza in 2009). Its Al Jazeera network was the

Qatar also played mediating roles on Iran’s

The Washington Post reported on Thursday

first pan-Arab news network to label Israel

nuclear file, facilitating indirect talks between

that the US and Qatar have “agreed to revisit”

on a map and invite its officials for on-air

Tehran and Washington in late 2022.

Doha’s association with Hamas after the

interviews.

In one of its most notable mediation efforts,

hostage crisis is resolved, citing four diplomats

What is Qatar’s strategy in playing a mediator

Qatar in 2021 proved crucial to Washington’s

familiar with the discussions.

role?

eleventh-hour evacuation from Afghanistan,

The agreement was forged during a recent

Qatar is trying to “carve out a place for diplo-

when the Gulf state not only facilitated the

meeting in Doha between US Secretary of

macy,” Krieg said, adding that one goal was

safe travel of Americans in the country, but

State Antony Blinken and the emir of Qatar,

to delay an Israeli offensive inside Gaza. Israel

also acted as a protecting power for them in

the Washington Post said, adding it is still un-

however launched the start of its full ground

the new Taliban-ruled state, with which Qatar

decided whether that reevaluation “will entail

operation on Friday, which US officials told

maintains diplomatic ties.

an exodus of Hamas leaders from Qatar.”

CNN has complicated efforts to free the more

Has Hamas become a liability for Qatar after

Krieg said it is unlikely that Qatar will kick

than 200 hostages believed to be held by

October 7?

Hamas out, but is likely to dissociate from the group, as it did with the Taliban, which also an

Hamas.

Doha has come under criticism from Israel

office in the Qatari capital Doha.

On Saturday, Majed Al-Ansari, the spokesper-

and Western politicians for its ties with Hamas.

son for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told

Despite its mediation efforts, Israeli Foreign

“Qatar is playing an exemplary role” in its me-

CNN that hostage negotiations are becoming

Minister Eli Cohen last week accused Qatar of

diation efforts, Hiltermann said. “But there is

more difficult but are ongoing despite the

financing Hamas and harboring its leaders.

a political bloc in the US that is unhappy with

escalation on the ground.

“Qatar, which finance and harbor of Hamas’

Qatar’s coziness with Hamas.”

Mediating to release the hostages kidnapped

leaders, could influence and enable the im-

Two Republican members of Congress have

by Hamas is a useful avenue for Qatari diplo-

mediate and unconditional release of all, of all

called on Qatar to “extradite Hamas’s leaders-

macy, Krieg added, as some of the hostages

hostages held by the terrorists. You, mem-

hip from Doha.”

have European and American nationalities,

bers of the international community should

giving several countries a vested interest in

demand Qatar to do just that,” Cohen said at a

Hiltermann said that despite the pressure on

backing Doha’s efforts.

high-level UN meeting.

Qatar to push out Hamas, letting go of the

Mediation has long been one of Qatar’s most

In response, Qatar said it was “surprised and

Qatar and might push Hamas further into

“marketable skills,” said Joost R. Hiltermann,

dismayed” by the Israeli minister’s comments,

Iran’s arms.

director of the Middle East North Africa pro-

especially “at a time when Qatar is seeking to

“You’ll lose that contact,” he said. “And these

gram at the International Crisis Group think

ensure the release of captives and de-escala-

contacts can be useful in the future.”

tank in Brussels, referring to the Gulf state’s

tion.”

Israel has however said that it seeks to destroy

group would be “a self-defeating move” for

Hamas once and for all so that it doesn’t

long history of negotiating between international players at odds with one another.

Qatar warned that “these provocative state-

threaten it again, which could diminish Qatar’s

Doha mediated a landmark deal between Iran

ments” could undermine mediation efforts

utility as a mediator.

and the US in September, which saw the re-

and even “endanger lives.”

lease of five Americans from Iranian detention.

Krieg said that a lot of Qataris privately have

The prisoner release was part of a wider deal

their own reservations about Hamas, and that

that included the US unfreezing $6 billion in

Qatar’s relationship with Hamas likely “needs a

By Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN 2. November 2023

More than 10,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza The latest Health Ministry figures come as Israeli bombardment of the besieged territory intensifies.

More than 10,000 people have been killed

to rubble, we are crying out for a shred of

in 31 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the

humanity from world leaders.”

Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health

While Israel has promised to destroy the

As Israel steps up ground operations inside

officials, with no signs of a ceasefire in the

Palestinian armed group Hamas, which carried

Gaza and continues its campaign of air strikes,

besieged enclave.

out attacks on southern Israel on October 7 that

Palestinians fear there is no end in sight.

has shown little enthusiasm for this idea.

Israeli authorities said killed more than 1,400

In a statement on Monday, Gaza’s Ministry of

people, most of them civilians, humanitarian

“Are you enjoying this … horror movie?” Zak

Health said the death toll has risen to at least

conditions in Gaza have reached a critical point

Hania, a resident of the al-Shati refugee camp,

10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children,

under constant Israeli bombardment.

asked world leaders in an interview with Al

with many victims still trapped beneath the

Jazeera.

rubble and an Israeli siege drying up access

Running low on fuel supplies, 16 of Gaza’s

to vital goods like fuel, food and electricity.

35 hospitals have been forced to suspend

“How many people need to die, [need] to be

operations as the number of people wounded

killed, for the people, for the world, for the world

“The number [death toll] is expected to go

increases and the United Nations said that

leaders to move to do something? We asked for

up as at least 2,000 people remain under

more than 1.5 million people, which is more

a ceasefire. We are all civilians.”

the rubble. The problem is, with lack of

than half of Gaza’s population, have been

heavy

displaced.

equipment

and

machinery,

the

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA 06. November 2023,

rescue teams on the ground are unable to remove and pull out these bodies from

As

under the rubble,” Al Jazeera correspondent

deteriorated and the death toll continues to

Hani Mahmoud reported from Khan Younis

rise, calls have grown for an end to the fighting.

in southern Gaza.

In late October, the UN General Assembly voted

The number of those wounded since

overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution calling

the October 7 start of the bombardment

for an immediate humanitarian truce.

conditions

in

Gaza

have

increasingly

has risen to 25,408, a Health Ministry spokesperson said, adding that Israel had

Both Israel and its most powerful ally, the

conducted 18 attacks in the past hours,

United States, have rejected calls for a ceasefire,

killing 252 people.

saying that an end to the fighting would allow Hamas time to regroup. The US has said it

The “shocking milestone” was a result of

would support a brief pause in the fighting to

Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment of

allow more assistance to enter Gaza, but Israel

civilian

homes,

hospitals,

refugee

camps, and schools, said Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a United Kingdombased organisation, “How many more deaths will it take for this assault to be brought to an end – 50,000, 100,000?,” said Fikr Shalltoot, the

group’s

director.

Gaza

“As

we

witness our homes, hospitals schools

and turned

14

One child killed in every 10 minutes.

US nuclear sub offers show of force in the Middle East The sub’s deployment is the latest major US military build-up amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The US Navy has dispatched a guided-missile

including two aircraft carriers and extensive

been crystal clear that we do not want to see

submarine to the Middle East.

fighter aircraft.

the situation in Israel widen into a broader regional conflict,” said Ryder in an October 24

The posting was revealed by the military in an announcement late on Sunday. The unusual

It has also announced the deployment of

press briefing. “And as you’ve heard President

revelation regarding the location of the ship,

around 1,000 American soldiers, and the

Biden, Secretary Austin and other senior US

which can launch nuclear missiles, suggests

engagement of an unspecified number of

leaders say, our message to any country or

a show of force intended to try to contain

special operations commandos, who are

group thinking about trying to take advantage

regional tensions amid the Israel-Hamas war.

“advising” the Israeli military in their Gaza

of this situation to widen the conflict is don’t.”

operations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled

“On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command

In addition, Washington has taken steps

on Sunday for talks with regional leaders,

area of responsibility”, US Central Command

to beef up the defences of its Gulf allies,

including Palestinian President Mahmoud

(CENTCOM) said on the social media platform

with a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

Abbas in the occupied West Bank and Iraqi

X, formerly Twitter. The Central Command area

(THAAD) missile defence system destined

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in

includes the Middle East.

for Saudi Arabia and Patriot surface-to-air

Baghdad.

missile systems to be sent to Kuwait, Jordan, The post by the Department of Defence unit

Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab

US military assets have come under heavy

appeared to show an image of the submarine

Emirates, The Wall Street Journal reported.

fire from Iran-allied militias in Syria and Iraq,

moving through the Suez Canal.

Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General

since October 7. During this time, such groups

Pat Ryder said the build-up was aimed at

have waged dozens of attacks at US bases,

Since the war broke out on October 7

deterring regional escalation and protecting

with the most severe wounding 21 US military

between Hamas and Israel, the United States’

the US and its partners.

personnel in al-Tanf garrison in Syria and Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on October 17 and 18.

closest regional ally, Washington has moved significant military assets to the region,

“Since that Hamas terrorist attack we’ve also SOURCE: AL JAZEERA 06. November 2023,

Donald Trump clashes repeatedly with judge in heated New York testimony Donald Trump clashed repeatedly with a judge and defended his family's business as he testified in a civil fraud trial in New York.

During almost four hours on the witness stand,

were reached and the financial statements at

the outcome of the trial and, as well as a multi-

the former president disputed claims that he

the centre of the trial.

million dollar fine, could strip the defendants of the ability to do business in New York.

deceived banks and aired grievances with the case.

"I'm worth billions of dollars more than the

The judge has already ruled the Trump

financial statements," Mr Trump said, before

"I'm sure the judge will rule against me because

Organization committed fraud and this trial

describing the property valuations as "very

he always rules against me," Mr Trump said at

will determine the penalties.

conservative."

one point in court.

Judge Engoron fired back: "You can attack me

Prosecutors are seeking a $250m (£202m) fine He said the valuations were bolstered by his

in whichever way you want, but please answer

personal brand, something he said carried

the questions." He later referred to Mr Trump

During his highly anticipated appearance at a

him to the White House and was never

as a "broken record". Like his two sons in their

Manhattan federal courthouse on Monday, Mr

factored into financial statements. "I can look

testimony last week, the former president said

Trump, 77, was asked about the value of various

at buildings and tell you what they're worth,"

it was the Trump Organization accountants

properties including his Florida estate Mar-

he said in another testy exchange. The lawsuit

who bore responsibility for the financial reports.

a-Lago, Trump Tower in New York and a golf

was brought by New York Attorney General

"All I did was authorise and give people

course in Scotland.

Letitia James, who accuses Mr Trump, along

whatever was necessary for the accountants to

with his sons Eric and Donald Jr and other

do the statement," Mr Trump said.

These properties are among several that

Trump Organization executives, of deliberately

As he left court, he again referred to the case

prosecutors say were intentionally overvalued

inflating company assets for years. All deny

as a "fraud" and said he believed his testimony

in company statements in order to secure

wrongdoing.

"went very well".

and severe business restrictions.

Some

better loans and insurance policies.

legal

and

political

analysts

have

Ms James, who was in the courtroom and stared

suggested Mr Trump's combative approach

In his testimony, Mr Trump, who is the

directly at Mr Trump during his testimony, later

on the stand was a considered strategy, while

current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican

told reporters: "He rambled. He hurled insults.

others have said he used the much anticipated

presidential

But we expected that."

moment as an opportunity to campaign.

him on how

"The numbers don't lie," she said. "Justice will

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor,

t h e y

prevail." The former president's time on the

told the BBC that Mr Trump's responses

stand was marked by heated exchanges and

indicate his legal team believes "they've already

lengthy, sometimes meandering, responses.

lost".

These prompted several rebukes from Judge

"They're trying to spin or add some colour to a

Arthur Engoron who appeared exasperated at

very bad result," Mr Mariotti said.

times.

"I think he is trying to goad the judge into doing

nomination,

valuations as prosecutors

stood

by

the

quizzed

something [Trump] can argue on appeal that "Please

just

answer

the

questions,

no

shows prejudice on his part," Kevin McMunigal, another former federal prosecutor, said. "Maybe

speeches," the judge said.

he makes a comment they can use to support a After another lengthy answer, Judge Engoron

bias case later."

said to one of Mr Trump's lawyers: "Can you

The judge has already fined Mr Trump $15,000

control your client? This is not a political

for comments made outside of court last month.

rally, this is a courtroom."

Mr Trump's daughter, Ivanka, is expected to "I beseech you to

give evidence on Wednesday.

control

him,"

he

added.

"If

The civil case in New York is one of several legal battles in which Mr Trump is embroiled.

you

can't,

I

He also faces four criminal indictments - two relating to his alleged efforts to overturn the

will."

results of the 2020 election, one on his handling J u d g e

of classified documents and another alleging

Engoron

false accounting involving hush money.

w

i

l

l

ultimately decide

16

By Madeline Halpert & Chloe Kim & Bernd Debusmann 07. November 2023

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 612 As the war enters its 612th day, these are the main developments.

Fighting

Politics and diplomacy

E

ight people were injured and at least 15 buildings were damaged or destroyed after Russia shelled the centre of Ukraine’s southern

M

ike Johnson, the newly-elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, said US funding to support Ukraine

city of Kherson. “In the evening, the entire city trembled,” Ukraine’s

and Israel should be handled separately, suggesting he will not back

Emergency Services said on Telegram. “The enemy targeted the very

President Joe Biden’s $106bn aid package for both countries.

centre of Kherson.” Ukraine’s Suspilne public broadcaster said one person was also injured after Russian forces shelled Beryslav further north.

Most of the European Union’s 27 leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels backed additional financial support to Ukraine as it fights

President

Russia’s invasion, but Hungary and Slovakia voiced reservations. The EU

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian casualties had risen sharply across

Speaking

in

his

nightly

video

address,

Ukrainian

is seeking approval for a spending plan that includes 50 billion euros

the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front lines over the past week. He earlier

($52.8bn) for Kyiv and must be agreed unanimously.

told United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that Russia had lost at least a brigade’s worth of troops in its assault on Avdiivka.”The invaders

Zelenskyy’s top diplomatic adviser said senior national security and

made several attempts to surround Avdiivka, but each time, our soldiers

foreign ministry officials from as many as 70 nations will meet in Malta

stopped them and threw them back, causing painful losses. In these

on Saturday and Sunday to discuss the Ukrainian president’s 10-point

cases, the enemy lost at least a brigade,” Zelenskyy told Sunak in a phone

blueprint for a peace settlement. Russia will not participate.

call. Brigades vary in size and can number between 1,500 and 8,000 troops. Battlefield losses are a state secret in Russia and Ukraine.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said it was the “steadfast will” of Pyongyang to expand ties with Moscow arguing that a

Russian diplomats dismissed a White House claim that Moscow’s

closer bilateral relationship would act as a “powerful strategic” element

military was executing its own soldiers if they refused orders in Ukraine.

if security in the region was endangered. Japan, South Korea and the

“Whoever came up with these other-worldly lies could only have been a

United States recently condemned alleged arms deliveries by Pyongyang

person with an imagination far into overdrive,” the Russian embassy in

to Russia.

Washington said in comments carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Russian prosecutors have lodged an appeal against a court decision Former Ukrainian pro-Moscow lawmaker Oleg Tsaryov was shot

to fine veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov after he was found

and wounded in a late-night attack in Yalta in Russian-annexed Crimea.

guilty of “discrediting” the country’s armed forces. Orlov, the 70-year-

Russia’s top investigative body said it had opened a criminal inquiry, while

old co-chair of Russia’s Nobel Prize-winning Memorial human rights

an unnamed source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the

organisation, was fined 150,000 roubles ($1,600) earlier this month.

Reuters news agency the shooting was a special operation conducted by

Prosecutors have filed an appeal calling for a three-year prison term.

the intelligence agency, describing Tsaryov as an “absolutely legal target”.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said it thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack near a nuclear plant in Kurchatov in the country’s southern Kursk region.

A separate statement from the Kursk nuclear power station said three

Weapons

G

ermany’s Defence Ministry said it delivered a third IRIS-T SLM air defence system to Ukraine. The country is stepping up efforts

drones had been involved in the attack, there were no casualties or

to get air defence systems to Ukraine before the winter sets in to help

damage and the plant was operating as normal.

protect critical infrastructure from Russian attacks.

Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the appointment of 55-year-old Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov as commander of the country’s aerospace forces, replacing General Sergei Surovikin who was fired in August.

Afzalov has been acting head since Surovikin’s dismissal.

Ukraine said it had so far exported 1.3 million tonnes of grain and other cargo through a new Black Sea corridor it set up in August after Moscow withdrew from a United Nations-brokered deal that allowed Kyiv to safely export grain to world markets.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA 28. October 2023.

of inflating were actually undervalued, based on the premium his “brand” adds. He also said that banks did not rely on his statements of financial condition when weighing loans.

“They just weren’t a very important element in banks’ decision-making process,” Trump told the court. “And we’ll explain that as this trial goes along.”

Here’s a look at New York state’s valuation of four high-profile Trump properties where the prosecution alleges fraud occurred, along with Bloomberg’s own approach to assessing the assets.

Mar-a-Lago Trump’s valuation (2021): US$612.1 million Bloomberg valuation (2023): US$240 million New York’s valuation (2021): US$27.6 million It’s fair to say that Trump’s most famous property these days is no longer New York’s Trump Tower but his Mar-a-Lago Club, the historic Palm Beach estate built by Marjorie Merriweather Post in the 1920s that he now calls home.

Trump’s wealth has jumped

The sprawling resort has been at the centre

US$500 million since he left the White House The higher net worth comes as Donald Trump’s businesses are proving resilient in the face of a gloomy real estate market.

D

onald Trump is getting richer.

hotel and paying down loans, Trump is sitting

With the former president on trial in New

on more cash and less leverage than at any

York, accused of inflating his wealth by billions

point in the past decade.

of US dollars for more than a decade, the

“The

question of how much he’s worth is as relevant

and never been better,” his son, Eric Trump,

as ever.

executive

The answer may surprise: Trump’s fortune is

Organization, said. “We have the most cash and

valued at US$3.1 billion, up from US$2.6 billion

the lowest debt. We are in a fantastic spot.”

in 2021, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires

Bloomberg’s wealth index has been calculating

Index.

Trump’s net worth since 2015, based on

He spent a combative day in court on Monday

ethics disclosures required for presidential

(Nov 6) arguing about how he valued his assets.

candidates, public filings tied to key real estate

The civil fraud lawsuit, brought by New York

holdings and staff reporting. Thousands of

attorney general Letitia James, could result in

pages of exhibits detailing the performance of

hundreds of millions in penalties and the loss

his assets made available during the trial have

of some of his most iconic properties.

provided a deeper look into his fortune.

The higher net worth comes as Trump’s

The former president’s 2021 statement of

businesses are proving resilient in the face of a

financial condition, filed as part of the lawsuit,

gloomy real estate market. His move to Florida

pegged his net worth at US$4.5 billion.

after leaving the White House coincided with a

Bloomberg’s

boom in the state that’s bolstered the finances

been below Trump’s figures. At the same

of two of his best-known properties – Mar-a-

time, Bloomberg measured the value of some

Lago in Palm Beach and the Doral resort in

Trump properties higher than what New York

Miami – while revenues at the rest of his golf

state claims.

courses have surged more than 50 per cent

Trump took the stand on Monday and testified

since 2019. And after selling his Washington

that the properties whose values he’s accused

18

company

has

never

vice-president

calculation

been of

has

stronger

the

Trump

consistently

of some publicised post-presidency scandals,

that seems to be changing. It took in about

It’s possible Trump would get a higher price

from classified documents being kept in one of

US$41 million in revenue last year, according

because of his name. “There would be a Trump

its bathrooms to the location where Trump is

to Trump’s most recent ethics disclosure,

premium because the person that would want

said to have shared nuclear submarine secrets

compared with US$21 million in 2019.

that property is likely to be a Trump supporter,”

with an Australian businessman – something

Bloomberg values Mar-a-Lago at US$240

Beracha said. But it’s also likely that the

that Trump denies.

million, based on a combination of comparable

association with Trump would turn off some

It’s also a major focus in Trump’s fraud lawsuit.

residential property sales in the area as well

buyers.

Trump made a series of agreements with

as its value as a business, reflecting some

Palm Beach County and the National Trust

uncertainty around its future status.

Trump Park Avenue

for Historic Preservation for Mar-a-Lago to be

That uncertainty is not shared by everyone.

Trump’s valuation (2021): US$90.9 million

used only as a club, giving up any development

If the city and county allowed it, “there is

Bloomberg valuation (2023): US$86.4 million

rights. Consequently, Palm Beach values the

no reason why it would not be able to be

New York’s valuation (2021): US$80 million

property as a business on its tax rolls. In 2021,

converted to a full-time private residence”, said

The residential condo tower on Manhattan’s

the county assessed it at US$27.6 million, lower

Eli Beracha, director of the Hollo School of Real

Upper East Side, formerly the Hotel Delmoni-

than comparable residential properties. New

Estate at Florida International University.

co, is not one of Trump’s best-known buildings,

York State argues that this appraisal is the one Trump should have been using.

but it’s been the source of some significant

Trump’s Fifth Avenue penthouse

asset inflations, according to the prosecution.

Trump’s valuation (2021): US$131.3 million

Its value to Trump mostly stems from unsold

New York’s estimated value “was a shock to the

Bloomberg valuation (2023): US$40 million

condo units that are owned by the Trump Or-

real estate community and anybody with any

New York valuation: No current estimate

ganization and rented out. A varying number

understanding of the island and its values”, said

available

have been rent-stabilised, meaning tenants

Liza Pulitzer, a real estate agent at Brown Harris

Trump’s penthouse apartment at Trump Tower

pay below market rates. Typically, these

Stevens and a Palm Beach native. “It could

has been an integral part of his image for 40

apartments are valued at a discount because

easily fetch US$500 million or more.”

years, so it’s not surprising that one of the

tenants can stay indefinitely, sometimes even

That assumes a buyer views it as a single-family

world’s masters of hyperbole exaggerated its

passing them on to children.

residence. It’s currently not zoned for such

size for most of that time.

In 2010, 12 rent-stabilised apartments owned

use, though Trump is able to reside there to a

Between 2011 and 2016, Trump valued his

by Trump were valued at an average of

loophole designating himself an employee.

apartment based on it being 30,000 square feet

US$62,500 each in an appraisal provided by

Trump’s legal team engaged an expert witness

in size – almost triple its actual measurement

a real estate company. The following year,

who argued that a future buyer could do the

of 10,996 square feet. Because of this, New York

Trump valued them at US$4.1 million each

same thing. And if they did not like the idea of

State arrived at a valuation that was about a

– more than 65 times greater. Trump has con-

sharing their property with others, they could

third of Trump’s in those years. They have not

tinued to value stabilised apartments in the

reduce the club to a membership of one. Still,

provided a more recent estimate.

building at market rates, including in his 2021

it’s unclear if Palm Beach would allow that

Space inflation was not the only issue. Between

statement of financial condition.

without a change to its zoning status.

2014 and 2015, Trump increased the value of

Rent-stabilised units “with a positive cash flow

Historically, Mar-a-Lago never made much

the apartment to US$327 million from US$200

are often valued at 15-25 cents a dollar of the

money

million. The prosecution argues that was to

open market value, versus single digits for

mask a drop in the value of one of his other

negative cash flow”, said Jonathan Miller, presi-

properties.

dent of appraiser Miller Samuel.

for

the

Trump

organisation,

but

Still, Trump’s optimism was shown to be at “A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by

least partially justified. By 2021, only five of the

a real estate developer sizing up his own living

12 apartments remained rent stabilised.

space of decades, can only be considered fraud,” judge Arthur Engoron wrote in a

The prosecution also claims two additional

September ruling.

non-stabilised apartments in the building

Bloomberg

values

the

property

using

were overvalued because Trump ignored an

recent Trump Tower sales, as well as those of

option his daughter, Ivanka Trump, had to buy

comparable Manhattan penthouses. While

them at a price lower than the market value

some splashy residences in much newer

he used.

buildings on so-called Billionaires Row have

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued

listed for well in excess of US$100 million, they

Trump’s assets using his 2021 statement of

typically boast higher ceilings, more up-to-date

financial condition, August 2023 Office of

finishes, contemporary layouts, outdoor space

Government Ethics and mortgage filings and

and better views.

market data. Properties were valued “as is”,

A better comparison would be a 9,450-square-

meaning the value of potential development,

foot penthouse in Olympic Tower, five blocks

including at the Doral and Aberdeen proper-

south on Fifth Avenue, which has been on and

ties, was not considered. Trump Media & Tech-

off the market for US$35 million since 2016.

nology is valued using the range indicated by

Then there’s Carl Icahn’s 14,000-square-foot

Trump on his ethics disclosure. Its merger with

penthouse at Museum Tower on West 53rd

blank-check company Digital World Acqui-

Street. It was listed for US$35 million in 2019

sition – which values it higher – has yet to be

before he attempted to split the space and

completed.

sell it as two separate apartments. Both were eventually delisted.

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG 08. November 2023

Civilians Trapped in Gaza Are Running Out of Food, Fuel and Hope The Gaza strip is effectively cut in half, with the Israeli military encircling Gaza City to root out Hamas In the days after Oct. 7, bombs started falling

people died in the north, but the rest in places

all the more risky since last week, when its

from the sky. Leaflets fell too, urging the 1.1

that were supposed to be safe.

military advanced west under a hail of tank

million residents of northern Gaza to head

The Gazans who spoke to Bloomberg said

shelling and airstrikes, effectively dividing the

south for their safety. So Reda Sahoiun left her

they were having to make calculations about

Gaza Strip in two. And with missiles targeting

home.

their safety in a place where supplies of food

residential areas along its entire length, people

and water are rapidly dwindling. While on

say they have nowhere to go, and no means of

The 40-year-old charity worker packed into

Nov. 6 the United Nations said that 451 aid

getting there.

a taxi with her elderly mother, taking a ring,

trucks have been allowed to enter in the

two necklaces, bracelets, blankets and some

weeks since hostilities began, in the besieged

In a rare instance of diplomatic progress since

painkillers. But when they reached her friends’

enclave that relies on such donations to

the Israel-Hamas war began last month, a deal

house in the southern city of Khan Younis,

survive, that compares to the 500 that were

brokered by Qatar and the US had allowed

Sahouin found it was no refuge from the

making deliveries daily before the war — and

foreign passport holders to start leaving

explosions. “It was not safe at all there,” she

not a single one has brought in fuel. Israel says

through the otherwise closed Rafah border

recalled. “They bombed the house next to ours

Hamas hoards fuel from the civilian population.

crossing last week, though in recent days this has stalled. In any case some, like Mai, who is a

without warning.”

In the wake of US Secretary of State Antony

Palestinian with German citizenship who didn’t

Sahouin and her mother stayed only four days

Blinken’s four-day trip to the Middle East,

want to give her last name, are trapped in the

before finding a lift back home again. On Oct.

US officials told the Washington Post that

north. She said she didn’t know how she would

24, just before Israeli ground troops began a

Israel’s counterattack against Hamas has been

get to the southern border, after learning roads

ground assault of the north Gaza strip, she

excessively severe, costing too many civilian

were cut off.

realized again she may have made the wrong

casualties and lacking a coherent endgame —

A few days after Mai spoke to Bloomberg, Israel

choice.

but that they had been unable to exert enough

said it was allowing people to leave by foot,

influence on Israel to change its course.

but some are scared to make the journey after

By then, escaping south had gotten much

Worsens

the Israeli navy gunned down vehicles on the

harder. With the Israeli military now wholly

For so many ordinary citizens of the Hamas-

coastal road last week. Photos from the Hamas-

encircling the northern town of Gaza City,

run territory, this is not their fight. But they

controlled seaside strip on Sunday showed

many are finding the journey has gotten harder

have been caught up in it nonetheless. They

some people walking south, their belongings

still. Israel’s government has vowed to destroy

described a place that, at 25 miles-long, is small

piled high on donkey-pulled carts. Israel says it

Hamas, which the US and European Union

enough to entrap them yet large enough that

is targeting Hamas with such strikes.

designate a terrorist organization and which

traversing its length without transport is very

For Gazans, the situation Israeli Defense

a month ago killed more than 1,400 Israelis

difficult, even for the rare person trying to

minister Yoav Gallant called a “total siege”

while taking around 240 people hostage. Their

move without family and belongings in tow.

has stopped time. It stopped schools, stopped

strategy has involved a bombing campaign

According to the UN, almost half of Gaza’s

businesses, stopped entrances and exits. Most

that the Hamas-run health ministry says has

population are children.

cars, in the four weeks since Oct. 7, are relying

killed over 10,000 Palestinians and made Gaza

Finding a way to escape Israel’s bombs became

on the gas they had in their tanks at that

intolerable for the living.

That

is

a

organizations

number consider

relief broadly

accurate. At least 4,000 of the dead are children. Many are still buried under the rubble created by collapsed buildings. Children arrive at hospitals with their names scrawled on their arms to facilitate identification in case their parents don't survive. Some of the dead are buried in mass graves.

The Gaza death toll figures cannot be independently verified, and do

not

distinguish

between

civilians and active members of Hamas. Israeli officials have said Hamas inflates them. In response, authorities in Gaza have published the names of the dead alongside their ID numbers. Two-thirds of

20

moment. “We are fighting human animals and

use without electricity to run it.

the war. “There is no humanitarian crisis,” and

we are acting accordingly,” Gallant said on Oct.

Al-Mabhouh said that on two occasions she’s

therefore no need for a humanitarian pause to

9.

been able to walk two kilometers with her

the conflict with Hamas, Gilad Erdan, Israel’s

The war also stopped the accurate flow of

son to get drinking water from the house of a

ambassador to the United Nations, said two

information, in so far as it ever existed in a place

friend who had both filtration equipment and

days later.

where the truth has long been contested, in

solar panels to operate it with. They carried

The offensive has now entered its second

very different ways, by two adversarial powers:

back 12 liters.

month and questions abound about what will

the militant group Hamas, which has been

come when the fighting stops.

in charge since 2006, and neighboring Israel

Before the war, residents of the southern Gaza

which, with Egypt’s assistance — controls

Strip got just over 80 liters of water per person

A new report by the International Labour

Gaza’s borders.

per day, compared to advised minimum of 100.

Organization said 61% of jobs in Gaza had

Israel remains in shock over the deaths of Oct.

Now, the World Health Organization puts the

been lost as a result of the bombardment —

7, unable to understand how the the rest of

average daily allocation in Gaza at just three

and unemployment had already been high

the world has moved on with apparent ease

liters.

before the war. In an interview with ABC

to focus on the suffering in Gaza. US envoy

Monzer Shublaq, director of the water utility for

News, Netanyahu appeared to acknowledge

Blinken alluded to Israel’s ongoing trauma

Gaza’s coastal municipalities, said there is not

that Israel would keep a military presence on

here at the start of his comments to reporters

enough power to pump water to households,

the ground: “Israel for an indefinite period will

in Tel Aviv Friday, saying Israel must be able

even after Israel restored some water supplies

have the overall security responsibility because

to defend itself and could not “tolerate the

to the south Gaza Strip.

we’ve seen what happens when we don’t have

slaughter of innocents” — a reference to those

“The power plant went off after the reserve fuel

it.”

who had been killed on Oct. 7.

ran out,” Shublaq said. He added that in the

Amid the confusion about evacuation warnings,

the

north, where there is still no municipal water,

Shuaib Yousef, a resident of east Gaza City,

UN agency overseeing Palestinian refugees,

some contaminated wells that were closed in

decided not to heed them, heading west with

have been killed. When that figure was at 72

the past are being reused.

his wife and two children and sheltering at al-

Seventy-nine

employees

of

UNRWA,

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said

Shifa hospital. Israeli military said Monday they

it was the highest number of aid workers killed

Shortly before the fuel at the station ran out,

had reopened an evacuation route for civilians.

in a conflict in such a short time in the history

water from a desalination plant that was still

Hospitals in Gaza house not only the sick and

of the UN. He said some UNRWA shelters had

functioning was being pumped to the southern

wounded but, as sites that are presumed

been directly hit.

city of Khan Younis, according to Shublaq, but

relatively safe, have become home to many

nothing came out of residents’ taps. It was days

of the internally displaced. Israel’s army says

Despite the violence, some things can’t help

before they learned that the pipes had been

Hamas uses hospitals in a “systematic” way to

but continue. The United Nations Population

bombed, and rather than reaching homes it

hide its military activities, and on Oct. 27 said

Fund, which describes Gaza’s health system

had been spilling out into the ground.

Hamas has its military headquarters under the

as on the brink of collapse, estimates 50,000

Shifa hospital, Gaza’s biggest medical complex.

pregnant women are caught in the current

Almaza Odeh fled Gaza City with her family and

conflict, with over a tenth of those due to give

is now sheltering at a UN-run school in Khan

“I thought Shifa was safe, and I think I was

birth in the next 30 days.

Younis with her siblings, parents, nephews and

right,” Yousef said when reached by phone,

nieces. “Can you imagine waiting for up to an

days before a bomb hit its environs. “But life is

“I was so happy because it took me three years

hour to use the toilet? And when you get in,

difficult here; the hospital is full and I sleep in

to get pregnant and now all I want is for my

can you imagine how filthy it is?” She said there

the yard with my family inside.”

child to survive this war,” said Anwaar Munya.

was not enough water to clean them with.

“Things are getting worse everyday,” he said.

She decided to shelter at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa

Blinken had said Friday that more must be

“And we are running out of nothing.”

Hospital, hoping to escape the airstrikes near

done to protect Palestinian civilians, a shift

her home in the city’s east, and went into labor

in focus that highlighted growing American

in a tent in the hospital courtyard.

concerns about the humanitarian fallout from

Bissan al-Mabhouh, who lives in the southern town of Rafah, by the Egyptian border, said her tiny house is crammed with people, including her parents, siblings and extended family, who sought refuge there soon after the conflict began. “We ran out of cash, including all our savings,” said the 30-year old, who had recently gone back to university after starting a family.

“My husband has not worked or been paid since the war began.”

Tap

water

in

Gaza

has

always

been

undrinkable, owing to high levels of salinity and contamination. Because of her husband’s job as a salesperson for water filtration systems, alMabhouh’s family used to be among the lucky ones: they own equipment for purifying water at home. Yet Gaza has had no power outside of hospitals for 21 days, and their machine is no

By Fares Akram 07. November 2023.

Biden briefed on Chinese effort to put military base in Oman President Joe Biden has been briefed on what

facilities in the region including the United

naval drills with Iran and Russia in the Gulf of

his advisers see as a Chinese plan to build a

Arab Emirates (UAE) and other nations in Asia,

Oman around the same time. China has also

military facility in Oman, people familiar with

including Thailand, Indonesia and Pakistan. The

pushed for a ceasefire in the days since the

the matter said, amid a broader effort by

precise location of the possible base or what it

attack by Hamas.

Beijing to deepen defense and diplomatic ties

would house wasn’t immediately known.

Concern over China’s rising influence in the

with the Middle East.

A base in Oman would amount to a challenge

Middle East has helped spur US efforts to

Biden was told that Chinese military officials

to the US, whose Central Command oversees

keep its historic allies on its side. Plans for a

discussed the matter last month with Omani

troops stationed around the region, including

trade corridor between India and Europe via

counterparts, who were said to be amenable to

in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

the Middle East, unveiled at the Group of 20

such a deal, said the people, who asked not to

According to the American Security Project,

summit, are part of that broader effort to create

be identified discussing private deliberations.

Oman was the first Persian Gulf country to

alternatives to China.

They said the two sides agreed to more talks in

partner militarily with the US, signing an access

the coming weeks.

agreement in 1980. Oman also sits near the

By News Desk 08. November 2023,

Strait of Hormuz, one of the most vital shipping China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately

lanes for oil and liquefied natural gas. The strait

respond to a request for comment and the

becomes a focal point whenever tensions flare

White House didn’t respond to multiple

with Iran.

requests for comment. Oman’s embassy in the US also didn’t respond to a request for

China has also stepped up its diplomatic

comment. Opening a base in Oman would

involvement in the region, including well

complement Beijing’s other overseas military

before the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel that

facility, which it refers to as a “logistics centre”

killed some 1,400 people. In March, it helped

in the East African nation of Djibouti. But the

broker a tentative detente between Iran and

Pentagon has been saying for years that China

Saudi Arabia, after years of diplomatic deadlock

wants to build more overseas military logistics

between the historic rivals. China also held joint

North Korea threatens ‘shower of shells’ in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets North Korea is extremely sensitive about outside attempts to undermine leadership of Kim Jong Un. North Korea criticised rival South Korea on

North Korea is extremely sensitive about any

leafletting

Wednesday for removing a law that banned

outside attempt to undermine leadership

warfare” and even a “pre-emptive attack

as

a

“high-level

psychological

private activists from sending anti-Pyongyang

of authoritarian ruler Kim Jong Un as he

conducted before a start of war”.

propaganda leaflets to the North.

maintains tight control over the country’s 26

“Under the present situation where a spark

North Korea insisted that such activities amount

million people while severely restricting their

may lead to explosion, there is no guarantee

to psychological warfare and threatened to

access to foreign news.

that such military conflicts as in Europe and the Middle East would not break out on the Korean

respond with a “shower of shells”.

The law, crafted by the previous liberal

Peninsula,” the KCNA said, apparently referring

The statement published by North Korea’s

government in Seoul that pursued inter-Korean

to Russia’s war on Ukraine and the violence in

official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)

engagement, was passed six months after the

Israel and Gaza.

was the first time state media commented on

North expressed its frustration over the leaflets

The agency claimed that future leafletting

the decision by South Korea’s constitutional

by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office in

campaigns could trigger an unprecedented

court in September to invalidate a 2020 law

the North Korean border town of Kaesong in

response from North Korea’s military, which

that criminalised leafletting.

June 2020.

stands ready to “pour a shower of shells” toward

The decision was based on concerns that it

Tensions between the nations are at their

the sites where the leaflets are launched as well

excessively restricted free speech.

highest point in years as the pace of both

as the “bulwark of the region of (south) Korean

The ruling came in response to a complaint

Mr Kim’s weapons tests and South Korea’s

puppets”.

filed by North Korean defector-activists in the

combined military exercises with the United

While North Korea often makes bizarre threats

South.

States have intensified in a tit-for-tat cycle.

that are not carried out, the comments reflected the animosity between the rival countries amid

They included Park Sang-hak, who has been a frequent target of North Korean government

In

anger for his years-long campaign of flying

commentator, the KCNA warned that the North

leaflets across the border with giant balloons.

in the current state of tensions would consider

22

comments

attributed

to

a

political

a prolonged freeze in diplomacy.

By Press Association 08. November 2023,

Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Mohammadi goes on hunger strike Concerned over her physical and mental health, Mohammadi’s family say they hold the gov’t responsible for her condition.

N

obel Peace Prize winner Narges

it added. “It’s been a week now that they

transfer her to a hospital to receive medical

Mohammadi has begun a hunger strike

are refusing to give her the medical aid she

treatment”.

in her Iranian prison in protest at limits on

needs.”

‘Means of repression’

medical care for her and other inmates, as well as the obligation for women to wear the hijab

‘Morally unacceptable’

First arrested 22 years ago, Mohammadi has

in Iran, according to her family.

In a strong statement of support for

spent much of the past two decades in and

Mohammadi, the Chair of the Norwegian

out of jail over her campaigning for human

Veteran rights activist Mohammadi, 51,

Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, said

rights in Iran.

currently held in Evin Prison in the Iranian

the body was “deeply concerned” about the

She has most recently been incarcerated since

capital Tehran, was awarded the Nobel Prize in

2023 laureate’s health.

November 2021 and has not seen her children, now based in France, for eight years.

October “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran”.

“The requirement that female inmates must wear a hijab in order to be hospitalised is

Mohammadi’s Nobel Prize came in the wake

“Narges Mohammadi, today, through a

inhumane and morally unacceptable,” she

of months-long protests across Iran triggered

message from Evin Prison, has informed her

said. “Narges Mohammadi’s initiation of a

by the September 2022 death in custody of

family that she started a hunger strike several

hunger strike demonstrates the seriousness

Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been arrested for

hours ago. We are concerned about Narges

of the situation. The Norwegian Nobel

allegedly flouting Iran’s strict dress rules for

Mohammadi’s physical condition and health,”

Committee urges the Iranian authorities to

women.

her family said in a statement on Monday.

provide Narges Mohammadi, and other female

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, her

inmates, with whatever medical assistance

From prison, Mohammadi also expressed

family said she was only consuming water,

they may need,” she added.

outrage over what she described as the

sugar, and salt, and had stopped taking her

PEN International, a group promoting

“murder” of teenager Armita Geravand, who

medications.

freedom of expression, meanwhile said it was

suffered a head injury while in the Tehran

“gravely concerned” about Mohammadi and

Metro without a hijab.

Mohammadi is refusing under any

“holds Iranian authorities fully responsible for

circumstances to wear a hijab, the head

putting her life at critical risk”.

While Geravand’s parents appeared in state media footage saying a blood pressure issue,

covering that has been obligatory for women in public spaces since shortly after Iran’s 1979

“Narges Mohammadi should not be in jail in

a fall or perhaps both contributed to their

Islamic revolution.

the first place,” it added, saying Iran should

daughter’s injury, activists alleged she may

“immediately” release her and “urgently

have been pushed or attacked by the morality

Prison authorities, in response, have refused

police for not wearing a headscarf, which has

to transfer Mohammadi, who

been vehemently denied by the

suffers from heart and lung

authorities.

conditions, to a hospital outside Evin for treatment. Her family

She died in October after a

said she was in “urgent” need

month in a coma.

of medical treatment outside prison.

Mohammadi, in a message expressing gratitude for the

“Narges went on a hunger strike

prize, which was read by her

today in protesting two things:

daughter and posted on the

The Islamic republic’s policy of

Nobel website, described the

delaying and neglecting medical

mandatory hijab as a “means of

care for sick inmates… [and] the

control and repression imposed

policy of ‘mandatory hijab’ for

on society and on which the

Iranian women,” the statement

continuation and survival of this

said.

authoritarian religious regime depends”.

“The Islamic republic is responsible for anything that happens to our beloved Narges,”

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES 06. November 2023,

‘LIKE A PRISON’: THE PALESTINIANS IN HEBRON LIVING UNDER ISRAELI LOCKDOWN

In Hebron’s H2, 700 Israeli settlers get military protection while 35,000 Palestinians can be shot if they step outside.

Hebron, occupied West Bank – Across the

Palestinians found outside their homes would

“During the day they are soldiers, and at

neighbourhoods of the H2 area of Hebron –

be shot.

night they are settlers,” said Emad Hamdan,

the 20 percent of the Palestinian city where

Palestinians in H2 were completely unable

executive director of Hebron Rehabilitation

some 700 Israelis live in illegal settlements

to leave their homes for the first four days,

Committee (HRC), a Palestinian NGO based in

and the Israeli military has full control

living off whatever supplies they already had.

the Old City of Hebron. “So they have the same

– the streets are mostly empty of H2’s

Now, they can only leave their homes and

attitude.”

approximately 35,000 Palestinian residents.

cross checkpoints at a designated hour in

Palestinian residents say soldiers aim guns at

the morning and an hour in the evening on

anyone who goes up to their roof or even peers

Patrolling the streets and manning the

Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

through their window, shouting at them to stay

rooftops, instead, are Israeli soldiers and

Residents also describe a flurry of attacks and

inside.

armed settlers in military uniform on the

threats that began immediately after October

When they do go outside during the allotted

lookout for any movement from Palestinian

7. Local activist Issa Amro, 43, was apprehended

time, residents still risk attacks and threats

homes.

by soldiers and settlers dressed in military

from settlers, who now wear military uniforms.

describe conditions in which they are

uniform, telling him he was under arrest.

“The settlers try to touch our women and

attacked, deprived of vital supplies and

Amro explained over the phone that he was

daughters,” said Abu Aisha. “They hit us; they

services, and have had their livelihoods cut

taken to the military base in Tel Rumeida.

say all kinds of horrible words in order to

off.

Cuffed and tightly blindfolded, Amro said he

provoke a reaction so they have an excuse to

“This has never happened before where a full

was beaten and spat at for hours, with settlers

murder us.”

lockdown is implemented, even during the

shouting slurs at him. After 10 hours, they let

In one confrontation on the street, a reserve

second Intifada,” said Bassam Abu Aisha, 61,

him go.

soldier – a local settler and paramedic who Abu

vice president of a local drivers’ union and

Over the next few days, Amro said settlers in

Aisha has encountered before – was cocking his

former president of the popular committee

military uniform attacked his home, stealing

gun as if to shoot Abu Aisha. A video recorded

for Tel Rumeida, a hill and neighbourhood in

his house keys at one point. On October 20,

by a neighbour shows the man fumbling to

the H2 area. “[Back then] we would have the

soldiers forced Amro from his home, declaring

put a bullet into the gun before it drops to the

liberty to go buy things and be in the street.

it a “closed military zone”, insisting it was for

ground.

But now no one can do that.”

his “protection”. Amro, who is now staying with

‘The children are constantly afraid’

Several residents who spoke to Al Jazeera said

friends in the H1 area, has not been able to

While the military recently began allowing

the same thing: “It’s like we are in a prison.”

return to his home and is still recovering from

students to walk outside and cross checkpoints

Soldiers by day, settlers by night

injuries to his back, legs and hands.

for an hour in the morning and another hour in

Following the shocking October 7 attack

“This is my first live experience to be tortured,”

the afternoon during the school week, parents

on southern Israel by Hamas, Israeli soldiers

said a shaken Amro.

are not allowed to accompany their children.

came without warning to Palestinian shops in

With regular military forces moved to Gaza and

As a result, children have largely been unable

Hebron and ordered their owners and workers

the Lebanese border, the city’s reserve battalion

to go to school, due to both the movement

at gunpoint to close shop and stay home.

has taken on primary security responsibility in

restrictions and because their parents fear

In online community chat groups, word

H2 as well as much of Area C, the 60 percent of

attacks from armed settlers.

trickled across the neighbourhoods of H2: Any

the West Bank under full Israeli military control.

A woman from the Jabari family, who resides

Besieged,

24

Palestinian

families

in Wadi Hussein, a stretch of Palestinian land

the baby had died. In another case, a woman

food and supplies.

in H2 that lies between the Israeli settlements

required an injection at a clinic only 20 metres

But with little to no income, neighbours can

of Givat Haavot and Kiryat Arba – where Israel’s

away from her home. Despite prior attempts

help each other for only so long.

far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-

at coordination, guns were pointed at her

“We are [financially] better off than some of our

Gvir lives – said the 11 children in the family

when she tried to leave her home. Despite the

neighbours,” said Abu Aisha in Tel Rumeida.

compound are growing restless. They wish

insistence of medical professionals, a soldier at

“But we don’t know how even we can sustain

they could go to school or at least to a shop to

the scene decided the injection could wait until

ourselves for more than a few weeks.”

buy sweets, she said.

the next day.

Already, NGOs are privately discussing possible

While some families have tried online learning,

According to the Jabari family member,

aid measures if the severe restrictions continue.

the internet connection has been too poor for

another member of the family who had been

‘They are depriving us of life’

lessons, she added.

injured while working waited for an ambulance

Monitoring of the situation has been spotty,

The Jabari family say they have been targeted

for three and a half hours. It was held up

with

by settlers for years. Among other violent

because of the restrictions. In the end, relatives

Ecumenical

incidents, a family member had been attacked

had to carry him all the way to the nearest

in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) leaving when

with an iron pole, leaving him with severe

checkpoint, worsening his leg injury.

war broke out and remaining civil society

head injuries, a female family member told Al

In the Jaber neighbourhood, a pregnant

organisations finding it difficult to reach

Jazeera.

Palestinian woman woke up at 5am one

families under the movement restrictions.

The community believes that settlers see the

morning in pain. According to the woman’s

Residents

Jabari home as key to ultimately dismantling

mother and a family friend, soldiers stationed

confiscated, and photos and videos of incidents

the Palestinian neighbourhood and connecting

outside their home refused to allow her to

are routinely deleted from them by soldiers

the two settlements. The Jabaris say that other

leave for several hours. At around 11am, they

and settlers. One neighbour was detained for

than to get food, they have been unable to

managed to leave in a private car. Doctors at

several days for recording soldier activities,

go out since settlers recently placed couches

the hospital discovered internal bleeding – the

according to Abu Aisha.

across from their home, where they sit in wait.

baby had died.

Residents say some families who had elsewhere

The woman from the family, who did not

In another case, a woman required an injection

to live have left, though no one knows how

wish to be identified, said that while they try

at a clinic only 20 metres away from her home.

many have gone.

to tell the children not to worry, they “know

Despite prior attempts at coordination, guns

In the meantime, residents and humanitarian

something dangerous is happening here”.

were pointed at her when she tried to leave

organisations report that settlers are taking

In one instance, a child in the family was

her home. Despite the insistence of medical

advantage of the situation to occupy vacated

chased down the street by a settler, she said.

professionals, a soldier at the scene decided

properties in the Tel Rumeida area. Abu Aisha

Another time, a five-year-old girl in the family

the injection could wait until the next day.

shared a video of Israeli settlers harvesting

saw a settler on the street and immediately ran

According to the Jabari family member,

olives from trees owned by Palestinian families

in fear, falling and injuring herself.

another member of the family who had been

in the area.

“The children are constantly afraid,” the family

injured while working waited for an ambulance

Families have been unable to pick olives during

member said. “They live in fear.” For weeks,

for three and a half hours. It was held up

the all-important harvest season, which runs

soldiers have prevented families from bringing

because of the restrictions. In the end, relatives

until mid-November. No harvest this year

in gas tanks for cooking and heating from

had to carry him all the way to the nearest

would be economically catastrophic for some

H1 (the area of Hebron under the Palestinian

checkpoint, worsening his leg injury.

families.

Authority) into H2. Following lobbying from

“Decisions are being made over what is

Unable to go to school, work or play, the Jabaris

local

the

medically urgent or not by poorly trained

try to keep their spirits up by reading religious

military recently agreed to allow gas tanks in

military reservists,” said a humanitarian worker

scripture or telling the children stories at night.

under supervised distribution.

in the area. “It is absolutely surreal.”

“Like all Palestinians, we hope for a better

‘Absolutely surreal’ – soldiers deny access to

No income, savings running out

reality than what we really live,” said the female

medical care

But what might be most pressing for these

Jabari family member.

The onerous movement restrictions mean

families is their dwindling cash reserves. Even in

But what’s going on at home and on their

residents cannot access basic services or

the other areas of Hebron, which are suffering

televisions keeps them up at night.

medical treatment, even when they desperately

because of a movement bottleneck into and

“We’re not able to really live life,” said Abu

need it.

out of the city, as well as because of business

Aisha, who has nine people and three children

With both the Doctors Without Borders

closures, Palestinians report dramatic income

staying in his home. “Eating, drinking, going

(Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) mobile

losses that have pushed families to the brink.

about our daily lives is difficult because all we

health clinic and the local clinic in Tel Rumeida

In H2, the economic situation is particularly

can do is just sit in front of the television and

shuttered – and residents unable to reach

dire.

take in these horrific images from Gaza.”

them even if they were still open – Palestinians

“Most of the families in these areas, they are

Family members sleep in shifts, terrified of

with medical emergencies are encountering a

regular labourers, they are blue-collar people,”

what might come next. “Settlers could come

security apparatus entirely unmoved by their

said Hamdan of HRC. “If they don’t work,

into our house and kill everyone, and no one

needs.

they have no income. So how can they cover

would be able to do anything about it,” said

In the Jaber neighbourhood, a pregnant

expenses if they cannot go to work?”

Abu Aisha.“It’s a reflection of what’s happening

Palestinian woman woke up at 5am one

Families in H2 describe having to dip into

in Gaza,” said the Jabari family member, who

morning in pain. According to the woman’s

whatever savings they have to buy food and

also shared videos of nighttime raids around

mother and a family friend, soldiers stationed

supplies.

the family home this week.

outside their home refused to allow her to

“The families help each other in this time,” said

“We are being deprived of basic freedoms. They

leave for several hours. At around 11am, they

the Jabari family member, explaining how

are depriving us of life.”

managed to leave in a private car. Doctors at

neighbours sneak between their houses in her

the hospital discovered internal bleeding –

area, comprised of about 100 families, to share

and

international

organisations,

international

monitoring

Accompaniment

report

having

group

the

Programme

their

phones

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA 05. November 2023,

‘Armistice Day means ceasefire’: voices of those heading to London’s proPalestine march People express trepidation, defiance and a feeling they cannot stand by and do nothing about the ‘horrific destruction’

cipation was motivated in no small part by the government’s attempts to ban it.

“Our home secretary’s attempt to characterise [these demonstrations] as ‘hate marches’, and to associate a clear call for peace and an end to indiscriminate bloodshed with sympathy for terrorism … is despicable, and it is what will get this 64-year-old out on the street for the first time in decades,” Rawlinson said.

He said he was “troubled by the extent to

Rishi Sunak has said a major pro-Palestine

I feel it is imperative to add my voice to the

which [Israel’s response] is being defended

march will go ahead on Armistice Day and

millions of British people who are against this

by pundits and politicians across the political

that people have the “right to peacefully

war,” she said.

spectrum.”

protest”, after an emergency meeting with the

Lydia Samuels, 36, will be attending her fourth

But some are attending Saturday’s demons-

Metropolitan police commissioner, though he

Palestine march in recent weeks this weekend,

tration with a feeling of trepidation. “I am

described the plans as “disrespectful”.

holding homemade placards reading “Jewish

worried about attending the march because I

and for a free Palestine” and “Jews say cea-

am aware that in the complex and fragmen-

After the row over holding the protest on

sefire now”. She characterised her personal

ted political environment around this conflict

Armistice Day, in which the government piled

experiences at the demonstrations calling for

there is a real danger of my statement of

pressure on the police to stop Saturday’s

a ceasefire as positive. “People have embraced

protest calling for a ceasefire being unwittin-

march in London, Marija Carter, 26, viewed the

me enthusiastically and been moved by my

gly aligned to, or co-opted by, groups whose

calls for a ban as somewhat ironic but deeply

presence, often telling me so,” the musician

objectives I in no way support or endorse,”

concerning.

from London said. “Over the last few weeks I

said Fred Merttens, 46, adding that it would

“I am amused and appalled by the insistence

see more and more Jews present.”

be the first march he has attended since the

that Armistice Day is the wrong time to call

After Rishi Sunak vowed to hold the Metro-

outbreak of the recent conflict.

for an armistice,” the lawyer in London said.

politan police commissioner, Mark Rowley,

“It would not be the people who died in war

accountable for refusing to ban the march,

Merttens, a policy researcher from Oxford, said

who would suffer any offence that hundreds of

Samuels was clear: “It’s Armistice Day, which

he felt wary of bringing his children because

thousands of free Londoners call for less war.”

means ceasefire. It feels perverse to cancel a

he felt there was a “potential risk” of violence

peace march on a day about peace.”

on the day, “which is being actively stoked by some of our own politicians and newspapers

Amid a growing schism within Labour over the party’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict

Samuels was among 200 British Jews who

making inflammatory and divisive remarks”.

that has seen its shadow levelling up minister

attended a vigil organised by Na’amod UK, a

But he said this would not stop him from mar-

resign and 15 other frontbenchers call for a

leftwing Jewish organisation that campaigns

ching. “I simply cannot stand by while my own

ceasefire or share demands for one, Carter

against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian te-

government does not do everything it can to

sees a “turning point”.

rritory, on Monday. “We observed shloshim, the

stop the horrific destruction of Gaza and the

“It may become the defining moment of our

traditional ceremony of 30 days of mourning.

lives of the 2.2 million people who live there,

generation. I’m a member of the Labour party

We said prayers and read testimonies and

half of whom are children,” he said, acknowle-

because my local branch is wonderful, yet I do

sang songs,” she said of the vigil to remember

dging the complexity of a conflict with “no

not even know if I can make myself vote for

the 1,400 Israelis killed by Hamas’s attack and

simple solutions”.

Starmer any more, and many of my friends will

the more than 10,000 Palestinians killed by

He said: “Such peaceful protest is a hard-won

not. I will probably still do because I’m petri-

Israel’s response.

democratic right that our current government

fied of another Tory term, but I am completely

While others have been a constant presence

is doing everything they can to roll back.”

disillusioned.”

at marches, for some, this Saturday will be the first time they have taken part. Jack Rawlin-

Many will travel to the capital to make their voices heard on Saturday as demands for a ceasefire intensify. Sidra Butt-Mughal, 38, will be making the trip from Oxfordshire with her husband and their two-year-old and five-yearold children to take part. Butt-Mughal, whose brother-in-law is Palestinian American, was one of scores who told the Guardian why they planned to take to the streets on Saturday, saying she felt devastated by the images coming out of Gaza.

“We are a proud British-Muslim family … we feel obligated to voice our concerns about this unjust war,” the research consultant said, adding that it would be the third protest she had attended, including a smaller one in Reading.

“As a mother with very young children, I’m very affected – I imagine all those children, Israeli or Palestinian, to be like my children.

26

son, 64, a train driver in London, said his parti-

By Clea Skopeliti 09. November 2023

Brexit has hit UK’s economic openness, says Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says free trade demands greater international cooperation on financial rule-making

optimistic. I think it will happen but I’m afraid we’ve got to continue doing the work to make it happen.”

On Monday, the Bank’s chief economist, Huw Pill, said the central bank might wait until the

The governor of the Bank of England has

financial markets after Brexit.

middle of next year before cutting interest rates from their current 15-year high, adding

called for greater cooperation on financial rulemaking, warning that Brexit has affected the

The governor is known to be concerned that a

that he was concerned about high borrowing

“openness of the UK economy”.

series of panics in financial markets since the

costs plunging the economy into a recession.

Covid-19 pandemic was declared in early 2020 In an apparent swipe at those calling for the

have required strong central bank intervention.

Pill said pricing in financial markets – which now points to a first rate cut to the bank

UK to develop a separate rulebook for banking and insurance activities, Andrew Bailey said

He said financial investments known as money

rate in August 2024 – “doesn’t seem totally

free trade needed strong regulation based on

market funds, which lubricate buying and

unreasonable, at least to me”.

agreements with foreign watchdogs.

selling in short-term securities, were especially vulnerable and needed to be overseen by more

“It is at that point you might consider or

Speaking in Dublin at a financial services

robust international agreements.

reassess, if nothing new has happened, where

conference organised by the Irish central bank,

In answer to questions about the health of the

we are going to have to be,” Pill said during an

he argued against trade protectionism and

UK economy, Bailey said he was “optimistic”

online presentation organised by the Bank.

regulatory fragmentation.

that inflation would fall back to the Bank’s 2%

“But, of course, it is very unlikely that nothing

target within two years, but that interest rates,

will change over that nine-month period.”

“As a public official, I take no position on Brexit

now at a 15-year high of 5.25%, would most

per se,” Bailey said. “That was a decision for the

likely need to stay elevated for longer to make

At a meeting last week, Bank policymakers

people of the UK.”

that happen.

held interest rates at 5.25% and stated that it was not thinking about cutting the cost of

However, he added: “It has led to a reduction in the openness of the UK economy, though

“Policy is going to have to be restrictive for an

borrowing anytime soon as it continued to

over time new trading relationships around the

extended period to see the second half out,

bear down on rising prices. Inflation stood at

world should, and I expect will, be established.

which is where policy is going to have to do

6.7% in September, lower than a peak of 11.1%

Of course, that requires a commitment to

the work to bring inflation back to target, and I

in October 2022 but still more than three times

openness and free trade.”

believe it’s going to happen,” he told the Dublin

its 2% target.

conference.

Bailey said he hoped to see further close regulatory

Irish

“Our forecast suggests we will be back at the

counterparts to minimise fragmentation of

cooperation

with

his

target in around the two-year horizon. I’m

By Phillip Inman 08. November 2023

TENSIONS HIGH AS GERMANY MARKS 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAZI POGROM

Neighbourhoods washed away in port city of Derna, where two dams burst, with many bodies swept out to sea

The ninth of November has long been the most

been reconstructed in recent years, politicians,

the ensuing retaliatory attacks by Israel on

delicate day in the German calendar. It brings

mayors and other Germans gathered with

the Gaza Strip, which have killed thousands of

a balancing act of remembrance for the state-

Jewish

Palestinian civilians.

sanctioned murderous devastation of the Nazi

speeches, concerts, candle-lit processions and

pogroms across the country in 1938 and, 51

readings.

leaders

for

memorial

ceremonies,

“Since the events of 7 October, [the date of] 9 November can no longer remain how it has

years later, the overnight collapse of the most The chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said in a speech in a

been,” wrote Bahr.

central Berlin synagogue that he was “ashamed

The war has prompted some to call into

Both had international repercussions that

and outraged” at a recent wave of antisemitic

question Germany’s stance towards Israel. Its

are still felt today. The former dominates the

incidents in Germany, warning that Berlin

postwar foreign policy following the murderous

nation’s collective memory.

would not tolerate such hatred. “Essentially this

era of the Nazi regime has widely been focused

Marking the date has never been easy. For

is about keeping the promise given again and

on regaining the respect of the international

good reason, 9 November was not chosen in

again in the decades since 1945 … the promise

community.

1990 as unified Germany’s national holiday.

‘never again’,” he said.

famous barrier in the world, the Berlin Wall.

Ceremonies throughout the day were due to

That has included forging close ties with Israel,

long

recall how Kristallnacht marked the start of

and declaring it part of Germany’s Staatsraison

referred to it as Schicksalstag (day of fate),

state-sanctioned race hate, paving the way

– the state’s raison d’être – to protect the

though that, say critics, suggests something

for the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were

country.

done to the German nation, rather than

murdered. For many thousands of German

something in which the people played a role

Jews it was the catalyst that forced them to

Across the political spectrum, criticising Israel

and had a say.

flee.

has been considered highly contentious and

The day is commonly referred to as Kristallnacht,

Organised gangs of thugs destroyed about

or the Night of Broken Glass, an allusion to

7,500 Jewish businesses and more than 1,200

While civil rights groups have condemned the

the shattered windows of Jewish shops and

synagogues. Between 1,000 and 2,000 German

police and government for what they see as

synagogues. In Germany, the term is seen by

Jews were murdered, some killed themselves,

heavy-handedness and censorship in banning

some as cynical and morally problematic for

and a further 30,000 were abducted.

a spate of pro-Palestinian protests, others have

Historians

and

commentators

have

socially unacceptable.

insisted there has not been a strong-enough

downplaying the extent of the violence and suggesting it was restricted to Jewish property.

George Shefi, 92, one of the few remaining

clampdown.

witnesses, travelled from Israel for this year’s or

commemoration, returning to his childhood

Amid a flurry of antisemitic attacks over the

Reichspogromnacht are the favoured terms for

home, which he was forced to flee after the

past month, the federal interior minister, Nancy

the violence, which was initiated by the Nazi

pogrom.

Faeser, warned of a possible escalation around

leadership but carried out locally and regionally

He shared with the BBC his memory of when,

the anniversary. She said assurances needed to

by members of the party’s paramilitary wings,

as a six-year-old, he watched a group of people

be given to Jews living in Germany “that 2023

the SA and SS, and other Germans.

jeer as a Jewish shopkeeper tried to scrub

is not 1938”.

“November 9 marks not only the brutal prelude

antisemitic graffiti off the pavement in front

to National Socialist crimes but reminds us that

of a destroyed Jewish-owned hat shop near

On Thursday, politicians, including Scholz, who

the persecution and attempted annihilation

his home. “I see still the picture in my mind, all

was the first foreign leader to go to Israel after

of European Jews began in full view, in town

the hats and the glass, as if it was yesterday,”

the attacks last month, met in central Berlin’s

and city centres, under the gaze of neighbours,

he said.

Beth Zion synagogue for a ceremony broadcast

Instead,

November

Pogrom

live on television.

colleagues, friends, fellow players, whether from the orchestra or the sport club,” Petra

This week, visiting his Berlin school, which

Bahr, the Protestant bishop of Hanover and a

was burned down in the pogrom, Shefi, who

The synagogue, completed in 2014 on the

member of the German Ethics Council, wrote

escaped via the Kindertransport to the UK, was

site of the 19th synagogue of the same name

in a commentary for Die Zeit.

presented by pupils with a small box containing

destroyed by the Nazis, was attacked with

a fragment of tile salvaged from the ruins.

molotov cocktails last month by two masked

On

Thursday,

the

85th

anniversary

men, and reported on in the Jewish Press

of

Kristallnacht, the emphasis, especially in light

The Holocaust education charity that organised

under the headline: “Firebombed just in time

of the outbreak of war in the Middle East, was

his trip, March of the Living UK, hoped it

for Kristallnacht’s anniversary.”

not so much on remembering a historical

showed the importance of taking responsibility

event as on reflecting on its enduring influence

and “standing up to all forms of hatred”.

on the present day.

Just how Germans should take responsibility has been the focus of heated debate ever since destroyed

the 7 October attacks on Israelis, in which 1,400

synagogues as well as inside those that have

people were killed and 240 taken hostage, and

Across

Germany,

28

on

sites

of

By Kate Connolly 09. November, 2023.

MACRON URGES ISRAEL TO STOP KILLING WOMEN AND BABIES IN GAZA: ‘THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT’ Emmanuel Macron has urged Israel to stop

“De facto – today, civilians are bombed – de

bombing Gaza and killing women and babies,

facto. These babies, these ladies, these old

as he called for a ceasefire.

people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do

The French president said there was “no

urge Israel to stop,” Mr Macron told the BBC.

justification” for the continued bombing of the enclave, which Palestinian health officials claim has killed more than 11,000 people.

By Oliver Browning 12. November, 2023.

HH THE AMIR, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER HOLD TALKS SESSION

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani

the developments in the occupied Palestinian

and HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the

territories, and joint efforts to reach a ceasefire

Netherlands Mark Rutte held on Wednesday

and bring in humanitarian aid.

session.

On the Dutch side, HE Secretary of National Security Council of the Netherlands Geoffrey

morning an official talks session at the Amiri HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign

van Leeuwen, HE Director of the Government

Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman

Information Service Sierk Nawijn, HE Director

At the outset of the session, HH the Amir

bin Jassim Al-Thani, HE Chief of Amiri Diwan

of Middle East and North Africa Department

welcomed HE the Dutch Prime Minister and

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, HE

Marc

the accompanying delegation in Doha, wishing

Advisor to HH the Amir for National Security

Excellencies members of the official delegation

the relations between the two countries further

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Misnad and several

accompanying HE the Dutch Prime Minister

development and growth.

Their Excellencies senior officials attended the

attended the session.

Diwan.

For his part, HE the Dutch Prime Minister expressed his thanks for the warm reception, and his appreciation to HH the Amir for the diplomatic efforts of the State of Qatar regionally and internationally, especially with regard to the situation in Gaza.

During the session, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways

to

strengthen

them

and

several

developments of mutual concern, particularly

Gerritsen

and

a

number

of

Their

‘The good guys don’t always win’: Salman Rushdie on peace, Barbie and what freedom cost him What can the great myths tell us about peace?

The writer, who has turned to fables all his life, weighs their wisdom – and considers the price he himself has paid for liberty

Matter of Rome, regarding that empire; and the Matter of Britain, the legends surrounding King Arthur. In Germany, you have the folktales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

However,

in

India,

I

grew

up

with

the

Panchatantra, and when I find myself, as I do at this moment, in between writing projects, it is to these crafty, devious jackals and crows and their like that I return, to ask them what story I should tell next. So far, they have never let me down. Everything I need to know about goodness and its opposite, about liberty and captivity, and about conflict, can be found in these stories. For love, I have to say, it is necessary to look elsewhere.

And what does the world of fable have to tell us about peace? The news is not very good.

Homer tells us peace comes after a decade of war when everyone we care about is dead and Troy has been destroyed. The Norse myths tell us peace comes after Ragnarök, the Twilight

"Everything I know about good, evil and conflict comes from these stories. For love, look elsewhere."

of the Gods, when the gods destroy their traditional foes but are also destroyed by them.

The Mahābhārata and Ramayana tell us peace comes at a bloody price. And the Panchatantra

T

o begin with, let me tell you a story. There

known as the Panchatantra. What I have always

tells us that peace is only achieved through

were once two jackals: Karataka, whose

found attractive about the Panchatantra stories

treachery.

name meant Cautious, and Damanaka,

is that many of them do not moralise. They do

But let’s abandon the legends of the past

whose name meant Daring. They were in

not preach goodness or virtue or modesty or

for a moment to look at this summer’s twin

the second rank of the retinue of the lion

honesty or restraint. Cunning and strategy

legends: I’m referring of course to the movie

king Pingalaka, but they were ambitious

and amorality often overcome all opposition.

double-header known as Barbenheimer. The

and cunning. One day, the lion king was

The good guys don’t always win. (It’s not even

film Oppenheimer reminds us that peace only

frightened by a roaring noise in the forest,

always clear who the good guys are.) For this

came after two atom bombs, Little Boy and Fat

which the jackals knew was the voice of a

reason they seem, to the modern reader,

Man, were dropped on the people of Hiroshima

runaway bull, nothing for a lion to be scared

uncannily contemporary – because we, the

and Nagasaki; while the box-office monster

of. They visited the bull and persuaded him

modern readers, live in a world of amorality and

called Barbie makes clear that unbroken peace

to come before the lion and declare his

shamelessness and treachery and cunning, in

and undiluted happiness, in a world where

friendship. The bull was scared of the lion,

which bad guys everywhere have often won.

every day is perfect and every night is girls’

but he agreed, and so the lion king and the

I have always been inspired by mythologies,

night, only exist in pink plastic.

bull became friends, and the jackals were

folktales and fairytales, not because they

promoted to the first rank by the grateful

contain miracles – talking animals or magic

And we speak of peace now, when war is

monarch.

fishes – but because they encapsulate truth.

raging, a war born of one man’s tyranny and

For example, the story of Orpheus and

greed for power and conquest; and another

Unfortunately, the lion and the bull began

Eurydice, which was an important inspiration

bitter conflict has exploded in Israel and the

to spend so much time lost in conversation

for my novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet, can

Gaza Strip. Peace, right now, feels like a fantasy

that the lion stopped hunting and so the

be told in fewer than 100 words, yet it contains,

born of a narcotic smoked in a pipe. Peace is a

animals in the retinue were starving. So the

in compressed form, mighty questions about

hard thing to make, and a hard thing to find.

jackals persuaded the king that the bull was

the relationship between art, love and death. It

And yet we yearn for it, not only the great peace

plotting against him, and they persuaded

asks: can love, with the help of art, overcome

that comes at the end of war, but also the little

the bull that the lion was planning to kill

death? But perhaps it answers: doesn’t death,

peace of our private lives, to feel ourselves

him. So the lion and the bull fought, and

in spite of art, overcome love? Or else it tells

at peace with ourselves, and the little world

the bull was killed, and there was plenty of

us that art takes on the subjects of love and

around us. It is one of our great values, a thing

meat, and the jackals rose even higher in

death and transcends both by turning them

ardently to pursue. There is also something

the king’s regard because they had warned

into immortal stories. Those 100 words contain

decidedly fabulist about the notion of peace

him of the plot. They rose in the regard of

enough profundity to inspire 1,000 novels.

prizes. But I like the idea that peace itself

everyone else in the forest as well, except,

might be the prize, a whole year’s supply of it,

of course, for the poor bull, but that didn’t

The storehouse of myth is rich indeed. There are

delivered to your door, elegantly bottled. That’s

matter, because he was dead, and providing

the Greeks, of course, but also The Norse Prose

an award I’d be very happy to receive. I am even

everyone with an excellent lunch.

and Poetic Edda. Aesop, Homer, the Ring of

thinking of writing a story about it, The Man

This, approximately, is the frame-story of On

the Nibelung, the Celtic legends, and the three

Who Received Peace as a Prize.

Causing Dissension Among Friends, the first

great Matters of Europe: the Matter of France,

of the five parts of the book of animal fables

the body of stories around Charlemagne; the

30

I imagine it taking place in a small country

town, at the village fair, maybe. There are the

I may or may not write that story. At the very

and when extremist religion and bigoted

usual competitions, for the best pies and cakes,

least, it may serve lightheartedly to illustrate a

ideologies have begun to intrude in areas of

the best watermelons, the best vegetables;

serious point, which is that concepts we think

life in which they do not belong. And there are

for guessing the weight of the farmer’s pig;

we can all agree to be virtues can come across

also progressive voices being raised in favour

for beauty, for song, and for dancing. A pedlar

as vices, depending on your point of view, and

of a new kind of bien-pensant censorship, one

in a threadbare frock-coat arrives in a gaily

on their effects in the real world.

that appears virtuous, and which many people,

painted horse-drawn wagon, looking a little

My fate, over the past many years, has been to

especially young people, have begun to see as

like the itinerant confidence trickster Professor

drink from the bottle marked Freedom, and

a virtue.

Marvel in The Wizard of Oz, and says that if he is

therefore to write, without any restraint, those

allowed to judge the contests he will hand out

books that came to my mind to write. And now,

So freedom is under pressure from the left as

the best rewards anyone has ever seen. “Best

as I am on the verge of publishing my 22nd, I

well as the right, the young as well as the old.

prizes!” he cries. “Roll up! Roll up!”

have to say that on 21 of those 22 occasions, the

This is something new, made more complicated

elixir has been well worth drinking, and it has

by our new tools of communication, the

And so they do roll up, the simple country

given me a good life doing the only work I ever

internet, on which well-designed pages of

folk, and the pedlar hands out small bottles

wanted to do.

malevolent lies sit side by side with the truth, and it is difficult for many people to tell which

to the various prizewinners, bottles labelled Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Goodness, and Peace.

On

the

is which; and our social media, where the idea

The villagers are disappointed. They would

publication of my fourth novel, I learned –

of freedom is every day abused to permit, very

have preferred cash. And in the year following

many of us learned – that freedom can create

often, a kind of online mob rule, which the

the fair, there are strange occurrences. After

an equal and opposite reaction from the forces

billionaire owners of these platforms seem

drinking the liquid in his bottle, the winner of

of unfreedom. I learned, too, how to face the

increasingly willing to encourage, and to profit

the Truth prize begins to annoy and alienate his

consequences of that reaction, and to continue,

by.

fellow villagers by telling them exactly what he

as best I could, to be as unfettered an artist as

really thinks of them.

I had always wished to be. I learned, too, that

What do we do about free speech when it is

many other writers and artists, exercising their

so widely abused? We should still do, with

The Beauty, after drinking her award, becomes

freedom, also faced the forces of unfreedom,

renewed vigour, what we have always needed

more beautiful, at least in her own eyes, but

and that, in short, freedom can be a dangerous

to do: to answer bad speech with better

also insufferably vain. Freedom’s licentious

wine to drink.

speech, to counter false narratives with better

behaviour shocks many of her fellow villagers,

But that made it more necessary, more

narratives, to answer hate with love, and to

who conclude that her bottle must have

essential, more important to defend, and I have

believe that the truth can still succeed even in

contained some powerful intoxicant. Goodness

done my best, along with a host of others, to

an age of lies. We must defend it fiercely and

declares himself to be a saint and of course

defend it. I confess there have been times when

define it broadly. We should of course defend

after that everyone finds him unbearable.

I’d rather have drunk the Peace elixir and spent

speech that offends us, otherwise we are not

And Peace just sits under a tree and smiles.

my life sitting under a tree wearing a blissful,

defending free expression at all.

As the village is so full of troubles, this smile is

beatific smile, but that was not the bottle the

To quote Cavafy, “the barbarians are coming

extremely irritating, too.

pedlar handed me.

today”, and what I do know is that the answer to

We live in a time I did not think I would see,

philistinism is art, the answer to barbarianism is

A year later when the fair is held again, the

a time when freedom – and in particular,

civilisation, and in a culture war it may be that

pedlar returns, but is driven out of town. “Go

freedom of expression, without which the world

artists of all sorts – film-makers, actors, singers,

away,” the villagers cry. “We don’t want those

of books could not exist – is everywhere under

writers – can still, together, turn the barbarians

sorts of prizes. A rosette, a cheese, a piece

attack from reactionary, authoritarian, populist,

away from the gates.

of ham, or a red ribbon with a shiny medal

demagogic,

hanging from it. Those are normal prizes. We

careless voices; when places of education and

On the subject of freedom, I thank all those who

want those instead.”

libraries are subject to hostility and censorship;

raised their voices in solidarity and friendship

the

remaining

occasion,

half-educated,

namely

narcissistic,

after the attack on me some 15 months ago. That support meant a great deal to me personally, and to my family, and it showed us how passionate and how widespread the belief in free speech still is, all over the world. The outrage that was expressed after the attack was in sympathy with me, but it was also, more importantly, born of people’s horror – your horror – that the core value of a free society had been so viciously and ignorantly assaulted. I am most grateful for the flood of friendship that came my way, and will do my best to continue to fight for what you all rose up to defend.

By Salman Rushdie 08. November, 2023.

Israel-Palestine war: The world cannot stand by and watch this slaughter Two million helpless people in Gaza have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide and no way to save their children As these lines are being written, Israel has

power.

The international community will not let

informed the UN that more than one million

Half of the Israeli army is currently guarding

Israel run amok in Gaza at the expense of two

people in the northern Gaza Strip, including

settlers in the occupied West Bank and all

million helpless people who have nowhere to

residents of Gaza City, must evacuate their

their capricious carryings-on.

run, nowhere to hide, and no way to save their children.

homes. There is nowhere to go in Gaza - not for 10,000 people, not for 100,000 and certainly

For the Sukkot holiday, several battalions were

They have no hospitals to tend to their sick;

not for a million.

moved from the Gaza border to Huwwara,

nowhere to tend to their shattered souls. The

near Nablus, to protect a festival of revenge

fact that Hamas did not attend to all of that

To evacuate one million human beings within

initiated by an extremist member of Israel's

does not absolve Israel of its responsibility.

24 hours is impossible, illegal, inhuman and

parliament.

impractical.

Media images of Jewish worshippers sitting

Much of the responsibility now rests with

In other words, Israel is threatening to commit

on a road in the middle of a Palestinian town,

the international community. Visits by top

a war crime the likes of which we have not

swaying from side to side like so many ritual

American and European officials, and the

seen since the Nakba of 1948.

palm fronds, were among the most grotesque

resoundingly sympathetic speech by US

of recent times.

President Joe Biden, should not mislead us.

Very possibly, this is all talk and threats;

The grotesquery soon made way for

Israel may not ultimately invade Gaza, and

catastrophe: because of this defiantly criminal

It must be clear that, notwithstanding the

a million people may not be evicted. In any

provocation by the settlers, the residents of

understandable, friendly human sympathy

case, nearly half-a-million are newly homeless

southern Israel had no one to protect them

that has been expressed, Israel's response

following unprecedented bombings of Gaza

when Hamas forces invaded.

cannot be unrestrained.

neighbourhoods by the Israeli Air Force.

Last Saturday, Israel woke up to a different

As I was writing these lines, a resident of Rafah

These are dark days. Dark days for Israelis, who

reality - one that should finally extinguish the

in the southern Gaza Strip called me, asking

woke up last Saturday to a reality that turned

country's arrogance and complacency. This

to send an article to Haaretz, the newspaper

upside-down their conception of their world

ought to demonstrate, once and for all, the

for which I write. "I don't know if I'll still be alive

that they had embraced for years.

impossibility of evading any consequences

in a few hours," he said. "Right now, no one

Israelis believed that their army was

for continuing to indefinitely imprison more

in Gaza knows if they will be alive in another

omnipotent, the strongest in the world;

than two million people in a giant cage, with

hour - but please publish the article even if I

that sinking 3.5 billion shekels ($1bn) into

another three million people living indefinitely

am killed."

the barrier around Gaza would be sufficient

under military tyranny.

At some stage, these atrocities will have to be

to ensure the security of the residents of southern Israel.

There was a price to be paid, after all. Last

They believed that they had the most

Saturday, Israel woke up to horror upon horror.

stopped - and that stage is very close.

sophisticated intelligence system in the world - one that knows, hears and sees everything.

Israel was shocked and sought revenge. That

Israel is equipped with miraculous technology

wish is now fulfilled. As I write this, all residents

that it sells to half the world, and boasts

of Gaza have become potential victims of a

elite human resources, such as the army's

violence that even they, however much they

celebrated Unit 8200, born geniuses who

already know of horror and suffering, have not

clearly could not be surprised by anyone.

previously known.

Different reality

Trauma of the Nakba

Then, the fence around Gaza was breached

Thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of

by an obsolete tractor, and the entire concept

Palestinians in Gaza will not live for many more

collapsed. It turns out, Israeli intelligence knew

days. Their homes, their lives and their world

nothing about a huge operation that had

will be completely destroyed.

been planned for more than a year; the army showed up very late to the sites of the Hamas

Those who are forced to evacuate will

incursions.

certainly remember how their parents and grandparents were forced to evacuate

Israel is not so powerful or omnipotent after

hundreds of villages in their homeland in

all. Its military strength is not enough to

1948, unable ever to return. The trauma of the

guarantee the security of its residents. What

Nakba will reawaken now in all its intensity, in

remains highly doubtful is whether Israel will

Gaza.

learn the most essential lesson from this: that

Israel must not misinterpret the sympathy and

the country cannot continue forever to live

solidarity that much of the outside world is

only by the sword, relying solely on its military

currently showing it.

32

By Gideon Levy 14. October, 2023.

MSF rejects EU funding in protest at refugee deal Aid group could lose €60m but says it cannot take money from countries that are ‘pushing away’ people and their suffering

maximising the number of people they can push back, they must maximise the number they welcome and protect.”

The aid group Médecins Sans Frontières will

“For months MSF has spoken out about a

MSF operates worldwide, but in the past

no longer take money from any member of

shameful European response focused on

12 months has stepped up humanitarian

the EU, including Britain, in protest at the way

deterrence rather than providing people with

operations in Europe due to the fallout from

Europe has responded to the refugee crisis.

the assistance and protection they need,”

the refugee crisis. Its rescue missions in the

The decision could see the organisation miss

Jérôme Oberreit, MSF’s international secretary

southern Mediterranean have saved more

out on €60m (£47m), the amount MSF was

general, said. “The EU-Turkey deal goes one

than 24,000 people in the past two years.

given by EU members, EU institutions and

step further and has placed the very concept

MSF’s decision is not expected to jeopardise

Norway in 2015.

of ‘refugee’ and the protection it offers in

its operations as 90% of its funds come from

MSF says it can no longer take money

danger.”

private sources.

from countries and institutions that are

He added: “Deterrence policies sold to the

“intensifying attempts to push people and

public as humanitarian solutions have only

The move follows MSF’s recent decision

their suffering away from European shores.

exacerbated the suffering of people in need.

to withdraw from the UN-run world

This decision will take effect immediately and

There is nothing remotely humanitarian about

humanitarian summit, which it said was a “fig

will apply to MSF’s projects worldwide.”

these policies. It cannot become the norm and

leaf of good intentions” and would achieve

must be challenged.

little.

In particular, MSF has criticised the EU-Turkey deportation deal, the agreement created in

“MSF will

March that is meant to ensure the deportation

not receive

of almost all asylum seekers arriving by boat

funding from

to Greece, and which has seen thousands

institutions

of people stranded in legal limbo in squalid

and

conditions on the Greek islands.

governments

By Patrick Kingsley 17. June, 2016.

whose policies MSF has also condemned Europe’s ongoing

do so much

attempts to pay dictatorships in Africa to stem

harm. We

migration flows before they reach Europe.

are calling

MSF says these moves risk stranding refugees

on European

in precarious conditions – just as the EU-

governments

Turkey deal has contributed to the trapping of

to shift

thousands inside war-torn Syria.

priorities: rather than

Passion for volunteering earns PHC doctor Humanity Award When Dr.

could not otherwise afford medical care.

a passion to serve others who do not have

Nizar Kibar,

“Dr. Kibar is a fantastic physician and steadfast

money. He was born in Lebanon and grew

MD, was

patient advocate,” Sarah Teaff, CEO of

up in a poor family. His parents were very

asked to

Patterson Health Center, said. “He understands

education oriented, and they gave Dr. Kibar

volunteer a

the importance of human connection when

the motivation to get his medical degree. His

portion of his

caring for his patients. It comes as no surprise

father was a teacher who worked as much as

weekends

that he volunteers in his spare time to care

he could to support his family.

to helping

for uninsured patients, or that he has been

His mother was a housewife and dedicated

bring

recognized for a Humanity Award.”

her life to the family.

medical care

The Mayflower Clinic is a non-profit

Dr. Kibar has served thousands of patients

to the uninsured in downtown Wichita, he

organization that offers free and low-cost

at the Mayflower Clinic and he continues to

didn’t hesitate to say yes.

medical care in Wichita. It was founded in

volunteer as the medical director. The clinic

2010 as a way to give back to the community.

offers free labs, x-rays and medications. The

He knows what it’s like to lack financial

Dr. Kibar joined the volunteer medical team

clinic recently added psychiatric care and well-

resources, and it gave him a deeper passion to

at Mayflower Clinic in 2016, volunteering a

woman exams.

give back.

half day every other Saturday. In 2017, he was

During the week, Dr. Kibar can be seen as a

“I understand that we are not all offered the

awarded Volunteer of the Year. Later that year,

physician at Patterson Health Center.

same opportunities,” Dr. Kibar said.

he became the medical director.

His efforts at Mayflower Clinic earned him

His volunteer efforts also earned him the Civic

“We are incredibly fortunate and proud to

a Humanity Award in September. It’s an

Health Heroes award from the Kansas Health

have him as part of Patterson Health Center,”

award given to someone who has dedicated

Foundation in 2018.

Teaff said.

countless hours to give back to patients who

Dr. Kibar’s background gave him more of

Philosopher Susan Neiman: ‘I hate the words pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian. I’m pro-peace’ American commentator criticises tribalist politics and pushes for Jewish universalism.

O

ut of centuries of Jewish suffering

differently in so many places across the world,

antisemitic mob stormed an airport].” The

have come two contrasting

become so tribalist. I hate the words pro-

“carpet bombing . . . of Gaza is not in Israeli

philosophical impulses. One focuses on

Israel and pro-Palestinian: they make it look

interests, even if you just care about Jewish

the need for the Jewish people to protect

as if we’re talking about a football match. I’m

lives.”

themselves against inevitable attacks. It is

pro-peace.”

She strives to see the mistreatment of Jews

supported by the biblical verses that urge Jews to remember the Amalekites, the

She has the advantage of being able to

and non-Jews through the same eyes.

tribe who once killed their ancestors. It is

invoke Albert Einstein. For 23 years, she

“Discrimination and oppression of any

epitomised by the nationalism of Benjamin

has led the Einstein Forum in Potsdam,

group of people on the basis of their ethnic

Netanyahu.

Germany, a research institute based at his

heritage is racism.” She condemns Hamas’s

one-time summer home. “Einstein was a

“pogrom” against Israeli Jews and the

The second emphasises Jews’ responsibility

total universalist Jew . . . We do care about

ensuing “pogroms” against Palestinians in

to other oppressed peoples. This was the

his politics and his biography because that’s

the occupied West Bank.

tradition Susan Neiman imbibed as a child

why he became a cultural icon. The second

in 1960s Georgia. She attended an Atlanta

half of his life, he spent more time as a public

Yet a strong universalist commitment faces

synagogue whose rabbi supported Martin

intellectual than he did working on physics.”

a difficult context. In 1948, Einstein, Hannah Arendt and other leading Jewish figures

Luther King. When she was three, it was bombed, most likely by white supremacists.

Einstein became convinced of the need for

wrote to the New York Times, criticising

She recited Passover verses with her mother,

a Jewish national home, but he feared the

a future Israeli prime minister’s party as

remembering those that urged Jews not to

cost if it came without peace. “Should we be

“fascist”. By contrast, “calling the Israeli

oppress strangers because they were once

unable to find a way to honest co-operation

far right fascist today would not just bring

“strangers in the land of Egypt”. “That was the

and honest pacts with the Arabs, then we

accusations of antisemitism, it would carry a

central experience of growing up — if you’re a

have learned absolutely nothing from our

professional death sentence,” says Neiman.

Jew, you care about social justice and the civil

2,000 years of suffering and will deserve our

rights movement.”

fate,” he warned in 1929.

Now an outspoken philosopher, Neiman

Today Neiman echoes Einstein’s concerns.

remembering the Holocaust. To many Jews

wants to reclaim Jewish universalism as

“[Netanyahu’s] policies are creating anger

today, universalism itself feels hollow, when

a radical act. Israel’s war with Hamas has

and frustration all over the world, they will

parts of the left have shown little compassion

pushed the world to pick sides. “People have,

rebound on Jews, see Dagestan [where an

for Jews’ own suffering.

To many Germans, criticism of Israel clashes with the paramount importance given to

34

place where one could raise a normal Jewish

shows 80 per cent of antisemitic incidents in

child, and I left, mostly for that reason.”

Germany are committed by rightwingers.

the problem is to become more anti-Muslim.

She spent the 1990s in the US and Israel.

Neiman’s struggle is not just with the right.

That is one direction that people are going in,

In Tel Aviv, she hoped to contribute to the

In her book Left Is Not Woke, published this

particularly in Germany.”

peace process, but even in the period’s

year, she chastises the left for abandoning

relative optimism, she felt “a nationalist

Enlightenment ideals.

“I’m scared about rising antisemitism,” says Neiman. “But I don’t think the way to solve

Neiman is best known for her work on

undercurrent. I realised that there’s no form of

historical memory. In 2019 she wrote

nationalism that really grabs me. I feel much

Wokeness, she argues, runs counter to

Learning from the Germans, which praised

closer to people from completely different

the Enlightenment’s commitment to

the country’s coming to terms with its Nazi

backgrounds who share my values than I do

universalism and justice and its belief in

history. It documented how, after the second

to a whole bunch of Israelis.” She returned to

progress. It is defined by reducing people to

world war, (West) Germans saw themselves as

Berlin in 2000.

the most marginalised parts of their identity, whereas, for Neiman, “it’s way less important

victims, rather than accepting responsibility.

Neiman notes that figures on the far right

to me that I’m a Jew than I’m a universalist.”

From the 1980s, a new mindset took hold.

— the Alternative for Germany party (AfD),

Germany became “the first nation ever that

Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Steve Bannon

Black Lives Matter “started as a very

put its crimes in the centre of its national

in the US — often strongly embrace Israel.

universalist movement”, but ended up “a

narrative”. Neiman contrasted its state-

She argues it works as a cover: “as long as

tribalist movement about ‘more power for our

backed self-criticism with the US and UK’s

we support the state of Israel, we can’t be

people’”.

reluctance to confront their respective racist

Nazis, but we can be as racist as we want to

and colonial pasts. Some critics said she

anybody else.”

Neiman doesn’t shy from arguments. Sucking on a cigarette, she attacks her academic

overestimated the sincerity of Germans’ In the current war, European Commission

opponents including Steven Pinker, the

president Ursula von der Leyen has supported

evolutionary psychologist, and Ibram X.

Just as Learning from the Germans was

Israel’s government more strongly than

Kendi, the author whose Centre for Antiracist

sparking debate, Neiman started to doubt

member states agreed. For Neiman, Von der

Research raised $55mn but has now been

its thesis. Germany’s historical memory

Leyen represents “a very mainstream German

criticised for low academic output and

came with a caveat. “The Germans have

approach: the way not to be a Nazi, and not to

management issues. “I’ve got to confess,

decided ‘we are the perpetrator nation’, and

have inherited your parents’ or grandparents’

sometimes schadenfreude is pleasant,” she

the Jews are the victim nation. That leads

guilt, is to say ‘Israel, right or wrong’.”

laughs about the latter.

on every occasion, right or wrong, and any

Other voices are muffled. After the Hamas

She returns to what she sees as urgent: proto-

criticism of Israeli politics quickly will veer

attacks on October 7, the Frankfurt Book Fair

fascism in India, Russia, Israel and the US.

into antisemitism, therefore we will only say

postponed a ceremony for the novelist Adania

“While liberals and leftists are arguing about

the mildest things’ . . . The United States is the

Shibli, seemingly because she is Palestinian

pronouns and cultural appropriation, the

most powerful ally of the state of Israel, but

and her award-winning novel includes abuse

right share strategies . . . As in 1932, liberals and

Germany is the second.”

by Israeli soldiers in 1949.

leftists need to join together.”

For Neiman, this crushed free speech. After

Many pro-Palestinian demonstrations have

Even so, the promise of universalism can

the German parliament declared in 2019 that

been banned in Germany, as in France, partly

feel naive at a time of war. “You say it’s naive.

the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)

because of the risk of antisemitic incidents

Every other alternative is disastrous. The

campaign against Israel was antisemitic, she

and public disorder.

security concept of the state of Israel for most

contrition.

to this statement that ‘we stand for Israel

of its 75 years, and particularly of Benjamin

and the heads of other cultural organisations wrote a letter of objection.

Neiman is not impervious to that. She gave

Netanyahu, just fell apart . . . All kinds of things

one of her twin daughters a Hebrew name;

have been seen as naive in the past.”

“I don’t support BDS, but I ask myself: BDS

the other an Arabic name. Today, in their early

was formed as an alternative to terrorism, if

thirties, both twins are being confronted

Her style of philosophy is engaged with the

peaceful means are so vilified and have no

about the war — by opposing sides. “This

world. Einstein, she notes, was an intellectual

impact, what do you expect young people

sense of hope that one could still have in the

“who walked the walk”: supporting the civil

who have grown up in the occupation their

early nineties is now so much in doubt.”

rights movement and refugees, and standing up to McCarthyism.

entire lives to do?”

She herself lives in Berlin near a It turned into her “first real shitstorm”. The

neighbourhood with a large Muslim

How would Einstein deal with events today?

organisations were accused of antisemitism.

population. Friends have warned her not to

“Sometimes you’re glad for certain people

A large project that she had been working on

go out at night, or even at all. “I don’t know

that they died before they could see certain

for two years “was suddenly cancelled”.

whether to be afraid or not. But I’m also

developments. He would see this as a disaster

worried about my Muslim neighbours and

for everyone, and the result of a tribalism that

colleagues.”

he just didn’t share.”

The experience continued Neiman’s ambivalent relationship with Germany. She first lived in Berlin for six years in the 1980s,

Moreover, she worries that the German right

experiencing a place where being Jewish was

“is using what’s going on in the Middle East

so rare and where the Holocaust was “just in

to raise new demands that we shouldn’t

your face all the time . . . I didn’t think it was a

allow immigration,” even though official data

By Henry Mance 06. November, 2023.

Don’t offend monarchs, UAE tells reporters ahead of climate talks The Middle Eastern nation backtracked after being asked about the restrictions — but inadvertently exposed its treatment of the news media.

The United Arab Emirates quietly established

“The document in question is an old guide. Its

discuss private conservations between E.U. and

sweeping restrictions on the hundreds of

content is out of date and not relevant for media

UAE officials.

journalists expected to visit the country for

attending COP28,” a UAE spokesperson for the

international climate talks later this month.

talks responded in an email Wednesday. “It has

The U.S. State Department didn’t respond to

been removed from the [U.N. climate agency]

a request for comment on the UAE’s media

website where it was posted erroneously.”

standards.

Now, the UAE says it was a mistake.

But in a 2022 review of the country’s human

The strict rules against publishing news that could antagonize the rulers of the seven

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,”

rights practices, the department found that

monarchies that make up the country were

said the spokesperson, who declined to be

the Emirates had imposed “serious restrictions

removed from the United Nations’ website for

named in the story. “We are looking forward to

on free expression and media, including

the climate talks after POLITICO’s E&E News

hosting the most inclusive COP ever.”

censorship and enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws.”

asked the UAE for comment this week.

Sultan al-Jaber, the oil executive chosen by the UAE to lead COP 28, served from 2016 to 2020

“Government

But the incident has inadvertently highlighted

as chair of the UAE National Media Council,

warnings to journalists who published or

officials

the sharp divisions between how the UAE and

which predated the Media Regulatory Office.

broadcast

material

allegedly

deemed

issued

politically

or

culturally sensitive,” the State Department said.

its Western allies treat journalists and protesters.

It comes as E&E News and other outlets have

While the document has been removed from

“Editors and journalists commonly practiced

published stories about the conflicts between

the U.N. site, it’s unclear if the restrictions apply

self-censorship due to fear of government

the Emiratis’ climate commitments and oil

to other journalists who work in the Emirates.

retribution, particularly since most journalists

ambitions that could have run afoul of the UAE

The UAE embassy in the United States didn’t

were foreign nationals and risked deportation.”

rules.

respond to questions.

The report also noted that nongovernmental

The constraints on news reporters were spelled out in a “Media Content Standards” issued by

The prospect of unfair treatment for the press

organizations and “media outlets reported that

the UAE Media Regulatory Office and posted

and visitors during the climate conference was

the government targeted activists, journalists,

to the website of the U.N. climate agency Oct.

a point of concern among some democratic

politicians,

23. The UAE is leading this year’s climate talks,

nations even before the media standards were

hacking campaigns.”

which begin in Dubai on Nov. 30.

posted.

The document called for journalists and media

“The EU has repeatedly raised the issue of

country, according to the watchdog group

outlets to “refrain from publishing anything

safeguarding media freedom and the freedom

Reporters Without Borders. In recent years,

that could offend directly or indirectly the ruling

to protest among Heads of Delegation, and we

social media users have also been jailed for

regime of the State” or that “could be offensive

were provided with reassurances that these

criticizing the UAE government or satirizing

to the national unity and social cohesion.”

freedoms would be respected,” a European

Emirati culture.

and

dissidents

in

systematic

Two journalists are currently detained in the

Commission spokesperson said in an email They should also avoid running stories that

Tuesday, before the standards were withdrawn.

are “considered as an offense with or without

The spokesperson was granted anonymity to

intention to other countries,” that “could include the disclosure of any secret that might damage the reputation” or wealth of any person and “that is officially requested to be kept confidential,” the standards document said.

On Monday, the U.N. climate agency included a link to the standards on an information page it created for journalists who are preparing to cover the climate talks, known as COP 28, an annual conference where geopolitical tensions run high and most reporting is focused on backroom dealmaking.

When E&E News asked the UAE organizers of COP 28 how journalists could accurately cover the event without fear of reprisals, the link and document were removed from the U.N. site.

36

By CORBIN HIAR 11. October, 2023.

Inside Giorgia Meloni’s Hobbit fantasy world The Ministry of Culture is funding a major exhibition in Rome on Tolkien, the literary hero of Italy’s far right.

I

Gennaro

Sangiuliano

appealed

to

the

Woodstock

Culture

Giorgia Meloni at her final election

announced the show to the youth wing of

generation in the 1960s, but a preface to

Meloni’s party in July as “a gift.”

the first Italian edition, published in 1970,

campaign rally last year, the compère lifted

Minister

Tolkien

ntroducing soon-to-be Prime Minister

interpreted him as a voice for tradition

a line from a battle speech in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings: “The day of defeat will

On Wednesday, presenting the exhibition,

come, but not today.”

Sangiuliano said the show was “not by

against progress.

accident but deliberate and desired.” In

For far-right activists who grew up with

Meloni has made it no secret that the fantasy

response to a question by POLITICO, he

Meloni, Tolkien is an intellectual pillar who

epic is her favorite literary work. As a young

insisted that Meloni had not requested the

represents the struggle to defend the

activist she dressed up as a hobbit; after

show but “only found out later.”

Christian

statue of Gandalf for a magazine photoshoot.

and

Western

identity

against

modernization, globalization and invasion by

she became a minister, she posed next to a In the 1970s the far right would organize

foreign peoples.

“Hobbit camp” festivals; Meloni has recalled Tolkien’s story was, somewhat bizarrely,

that her friends were nicknamed Frodo,

On Wednesday, Sangiuliano said Tolkien

appropriated by the Italian right in the

Gandalf and Hobbit, after central characters

had been a Catholic and “an authentic

1970s and has remained a sacred text for

from the books.

and sincere Conservative” who stood for traditional values “forgotten” in the West:

the Brothers of Italy party Meloni led to Tolkien

“The sense of community, nature tradition,

signals a shift in direction at Italy’s cultural

throughout her career, from one of her

opposition to the most dehumanising and

institutions, one of their more unusual moves

first political speeches as a youth leader

controversial aspects of modernity … self-

is a major exhibition celebrating Tolkien.

in 2002, to her autobiography in 2022. In

sacrifice, friendship, courage, honor.” He

2015 she called on followers to combat that

claimed Tolkien was “against fascism but

The Ministry of Culture is funding an

“sly enemy that Tolkien called the rings of

against communism too.”

exhibition in Rome marking 50 years since

power,” referring to the global financial elite.

government.

Now,

as

her

government

She

has

quoted

liberally

from

the author’s death at a cost of €250,000, according to an official, who said the ministry hopes to recoup the funds from

After her election, Meloni’s sister Arianna

ticket sales. Meloni herself will open the

vowed on Facebook to emulate the hobbit

show on November 15 at the National Gallery

Samwise Gamgee in accompanying Meloni

of Modern and Contemporary Art before it

(representing Frodo) to Mount Doom.

moves to other Italian cities.

By HANNAH ROBERTS 10. October, 2023.

Rishi Sunak's reshuffle: David Cameron makes surprise return as foreign secretary - here's who is in and out of cabinet We take a look at who is being hired - including the former prime minister - and fired, as the big names start dropping in Westminster.

Lord David Cameron has been appointed as

him the opportunity to serve as a minister once

foreign secretary in a cabinet reshuffle.

more.

long term.

"Professionalism, integrity and experience - this

The former prime minister said he "gladly

Downing Street said his salary would be that

is a team that will be bold in making the right

accepted" the offer from Rishi Sunak, despite

of a secretary of state in the Lords - £104,360

decisions for our great country, not the easy

having

per year - and added Mr Cameron would no

ones."

"disagreed

with

some

individual

decisions" by his successor.

longer take his prime ministerial allowance,

Speaking to broadcasters, the peer said he accepted

bringing

back

a

former

and would not take the daily allowance given

But Labour's Pat McFadden took aim at the

to other peers.

shake-up, saying: "A few weeks ago, Rishi Sunak said David Cameron was part of a failed status

prime

quo, now he's bringing him back as his life raft.

minister was "not usual", but he "believes in

The shock announcement came after the

public service" and has "useful experience" to

sacking of Suella Braverman as home secretary,

bring to the table.

who provoked widespread condemnation for

"This

an article she wrote in The Times, accusing

laughable claim to offer change from 13 years

He also called his new boss a "strong and

the police of "playing favourites" with left-wing

of Tory failure."

capable

groups over right-wing and national activists

prime

minister

who

is

showing

exemplary leadership at a difficult time".

during protests.

Lord Cameron added: "I want to help him to

It was the latest in a string of

deliver the security and prosperity our country

controversial remarks by the

needs and be part of the strongest possible

Tory MP, who is a popular

team that serves the United Kingdom and

member on the right of

that can be presented to the country when the

the

general election is held."

claiming being homeless

party,

including

puts

to

bed

the

prime

minister's

By Dion Nissenbaum and Dov Lieber 21. September 2023

her

was a "lifestyle choice".

The ex-party leader is no longer an elected politician as he stood down as an MP in 2016,

Posting on social media

having called the Brexit referendum and his

after the announcements,

campaign to remain in the EU losing the vote.

Mr Sunak said: "Today we have built a united team

But the government confirmed he will now

ready to deliver the changes

enter the House of Lords as a life peer, giving

this country needs for the

The horrific decline of the era of the United States in the world and the reduction of its intervention.

This is the climax. The one who brought about the era of America in the world is Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who obtained superpower, and returned it like a dry leaf by using a fearful and isolationist policy. After they withdrew from every site, including sites from Syria, and left control in the Middle East to the criminal regime in Russia and Iran. It is not surprising that dictatorships mock them. The fate of this world is controlled by the powerful and evil.

By Rudwan Musa 20. November, 2023.

38

Police brace for largest pro-Palestinian protest and impose Cenotaph exclusion zone The Metropolitan Police says it is facing a challenging situation in London, as a large pro-Palestinian demonstration coincides with Armistice Day.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters are

police "without fear or favour", balancing the

dominated the week. She claimed aggressive

expected to take part in the march, to call for a

rights of all.

right-wing protesters were "rightly met with a

ceasefire in Gaza.

He added it would be a "very difficult

stern response", while "pro-Palestinian mobs"

Police say there is a risk of clashes with far-

weekend" but the focus of officers was "to

were "largely ignored" - accusing the force of

right groups, and have set up an exclusion

ensure that people are kept safe".

applying "double standards".

zone around the Cenotaph. The PM has called

Other security measures announced by the

It later emerged she had defied a Downing

the timing of the pro-Palestinian march

Met include an exclusion zone using metal

Street request to tone the article down,

disrespectful. Rishi Sunak also urged those

barriers around Whitehall and Parliament, and

including - according to the Times - a

taking part to do so calmly and with regard for

the US and Israeli embassies, as well as a 24-

comparison between pro-Palestinian

those attending services to commemorate the

hour police guard at the Cenotaph.

demonstrations and marches in Northern

end of World War One.

A dispersal zone covers Trafalgar Square, and

Ireland.

"It is because of those who fought for this

much of Soho and north Westminster to

Critics of Mrs Braverman say she has

country and for the freedom we cherish that

prevent impromptu gatherings. Police have

undermined the police and potentially broken

those who wish to protest can do so, but they

also banned demonstrations at Waterloo,

the ministerial code by not agreeing her

must do so respectfully and peacefully," Mr

Charing Cross and Victoria train stations.

remarks with No 10.

Sunak said.

And there are plans to prevent a "convoy

A source close to the home secretary said she

"Remembrance weekend is sacred for us

of cars" carrying pro-Palestinian protesters,

had met with the Met commissioner on Friday,

all and should be a moment of unity, of our

which is expected to arrive from elsewhere in

where she "emphasised her full backing

shared British values and of solemn reflection."

the UK, reaching Jewish communities.

for the police in what will be a complex

The Met said officers faced some "aggression

No major protest is scheduled to take place

and challenging situation and expressed

from counter-protesters who are in the area in

on Remembrance Sunday, although the

confidence that any criminality will be dealt

significant numbers", ahead of a service at the

policing operation will continue with some

with robustly".

Cenotaph war memorial where a two-minute

1,375 officers deployed amid commemoration

Steve Hartson, national chair of the Police

silence was held.

events in the capital.

Federation which represents rank and file

The force said the two minutes' silence there

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said

officers, said it was "unacceptable" for a home

was observed "respectfully". Officers are now

earlier this week the legal threshold which

secretary to "publicly attempt to tamper with

tracking "different groups" moving away

would allow him to ask the Home Office for

the operational independence of policing".

from Whitehall towards other parts of central

permission to ban the march had not been

Downing Street said the PM continued to have

London, the Met said.

met. He also stressed there are no powers in

confidence in the home secretary, and was

Later, the King and Queen along with

UK law to ban a static demonstration.

"still looking in to what happened with [Mrs

members of the Royal Family will attend

The Met said it had made 188 hate crime

Braverman's] op-ed".

the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal

arrests since the conflict between Hamas and

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Armistice

Albert Hall - ahead of the main service on

Israel erupted on 7 October.

Day should serve as a reminder "that peace

Remembrance Sunday. The Met expects

A majority of the arrests were for suspected

is possible", even against a backdrop of

Saturday's pro-Palestinian demonstration to

antisemitic offences. A political row over Home

bloodshed in Israel and Gaza.

be the largest since weekly marches began in

Secretary Suella Braverman's comments

early October, and it is deploying nearly 2,000

about the Met in the Times newspaper has

officers across central London.

Police have warned the use of force is "likely", amid concerns around counter-marches by far-right groups.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organised the march, has repeatedly stressed their route does not go past the Cenotaph, and has rejected appeals by the Met and politicians to postpone.

Demonstrators gathered at Hyde Park around noon, with the protest due to move from there to the US embassy in Vauxhall, and ending at 16:00 GMT. The officer in charge of policing Saturday's protest, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said the Met's job was to

EMPIRE CAPITAL LTD. 3 TREBECK STREET MAYFAIR LONDON W1J 7LS UNITED KINGDOM +44 20 7499 2265 WWW.EMPIRECAPITAL.CO.UK

DESIGN BY: ORSOLYA PALYI