#british refugee council

[girlactionfigure]

Why are there Palestinian refugees?

In the months before the British abandoned its mandate & Israel declared independence, civil war raged as Arab factions tried to prevent the Jewish state from being born.

Of course, had the Arabs agreed to the UN's partition plan, they would have had yet another state & there would have been no war in 1948. 

But their goal was not another Arab state; it was to ensure there would be no Jewish state. 

Meanwhile, 5 #Arab armies amassed on the borders & waited for the British to leave so they could push the Jews into the #Mediterranean Sea.

As Secretary-General of the Arab League Azzam Pasha put it on the day of the Arab #invasion: 

"This will be a war of extermination & momentous massacre, which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades."

Or as the then war #criminal & fugitive #Nazi Grand Mufti Amin al-Husseini put it during the invasion:

"Murder the #Jews. Murder them all!"

But before the invasion began, & starting as early as Dec 1947, Arab officers began ordering Arab residents of specific villages to flee. 

Their reasoning? Arab citizens not involved in active fighting could only: (1) "treacherously" abide the creation of a the Jewish state &/or even become citizens of same; or (2) be in the way of Arab #military deployments & potentially get caught in the crossfire.

And so, for example, on this day (March 8) in 1948, the Arab Higher Committee ordered all Arab women, children & elderly to leave Jerusalem. The order continued, "Any opposition to this order ... is an obstacle to the holy war ... & will hamper the operations of the fighters in these districts.” 

In fact, the Arab Higher Committee ordered the evacuation of dozens of Arab villages between April & July of 1948 (see photo of Arab citizens fleeing below).

Meanwhile, on April 19, 1948, Jewish forces secured Tiberias, which had a population of ~6,000 #Arabs - all of whom chose to leave. In fact, they left under British military supervision.

The Jewish Community Council immediately issued a statement regarding Tiberias' Arabs: 

"We did not dispossess them; they themselves chose this course ... Let no citizen touch their property."

At around this same time, in early & mid-April of 1948, an Arab faction led by Fawzi al-Qawukji was attacking Haifa & attempting to take the city. Then, rumors spread among Haifa's Arab community that Arab air forces were about to bomb the city & ~25,000 of Haifa's Arabs fled.

As U.S. Consul-General in Haifa Aubrey Lippincott noted on April 22, 1948: "local mufti-dominated Arab leaders ... [urged] all Arabs to leave the city, & large numbers did so."

On April 23, 1948, however, #Jewish forces fought back the Arab attack & retook Haifa.

Three days later, on April 26, 1948, a British police report from Haifa noted: 

"[E]very effort is being made by the Jews to persuade the Arab populace to stay and carry on with their normal lives, to get their shops and businesses open and to be assured that their lives and interests will be safe."

What were some of those "efforts?"

Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, sent future Prime Minister Golda Meir to Haifa with the direct instructions to "persuade the Arabs to stay." 

Ms. Meir was unsuccessful, however, as Haifa's Arabs told her they feared that if they stayed, they would be branded "#traitors." 

And so, another ~25,000 of Haifa's Arabs fled. 

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but despite facts on the ground, Arab leaders at the #UN began demanding the end to a fake "#massacre." 

Specifically, #Syria's UN Ambassador Faris al-Kouri, said the Jewish victory at Haifa was a "massacre" that provided "evidence that the '#Zionist program' is to annihilate Arabs within the Jewish state if partition is effected."

The #British were still on the ground, however, & the British Ambassador to the UN, Sir Alexander Cadogan, told the UN the very next day both that the fighting in Haifa had only begun as a result of "continuous attacks by Arabs against Jews" & that the "reports of massacres & deportations [were] erroneous." 

Meanwhile, after Israel declared its independence & was invaded by five Arab armies, the newly established #IDF issued an Order on July 6, 1948, making it clear that non-combatant Arab civilians were not to be harassed or expelled, nor their villages touched. 

But the Arabs were being given a very different message.

#Iraqi #PrimeMinister Nuri Said announced:

"We will smash the country with our guns & obliterate every place the Jews seek shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives & children to safe areas until the fighting has died down."

This used to be known. In fact, Arab leaders for years after the war had no qualms about repeating it.

For example, Syrian Prime Minister Haled al Azm later wrote:

"Since 1948, we have been demanding the return of the #refugees to their homes. But we ourselves are the ones who encouraged them to leave. Only a few months separated our call to them to leave & our appeal to the UN to resolve on their return."

Similarly, #Jordan's King Abdullah wrote: 

"The tragedy of the #Palestinians was that most of their leaders had paralyzed them with false & unsubstantiated promises that they were not alone; that 80 million Arabs & 400 million #Muslims would instantly & miraculously come to their rescue."

Similarly, Edward Atiyah, Secretary of the Arab League Office in #London wrote: 

"This wholesale #exodus was due partly to the belief of the Arabs, encouraged by the boastings of an unrealistic #Arabic press & the irresponsible utterances of some of the Arab leaders that it could be only a matter of weeks before the Jews were defeated by the armies of the Arab States & the #Palestinian Arabs enabled to re­enter & retake possession of their country.”

Even as the war still raged on Aug 16, 1948, the Arab #Greek Orthodox Catholic Bishop of the Galilee told #Beirut newspaper Sada al-Janub: 

“The refugees were confident their absence would not last long, & that they would return within a week or two ... Their leaders had promised them that the Arab Armies would crush the ’Zionist gangs’ very quickly & that there was no need for panic or fear of a long exile.”

A few months later, on Feb 19, 1949, the Jordanian newspaper Filastin confirmed: 

"The Arab States encouraged the Palestine Arabs to leave their homes temporarily in order to be out of the way of the Arab invasion armies."

Even many of the Palestinian Arab refugees themselves admitted their reasons for leaving.

For example, on June 8, 1951, Habib Issa admitted to #NewYork Lebanese newspaper Al Hoda:

"Azzam Pasha assured the Arab peoples that the #occupation of Palestine & #TelAviv would be ... simple ... He pointed out that they were already on the frontiers & that all the millions the Jews had spent on land & economic development would be easy booty, for it would be a simple matter to throw Jews into the Mediterranean ... Arabs of Palestine [were told] to leave their land, homes & property & to stay temporarily in neighboring fraternal states, lest the guns of the invading Arab armies mow them down.”

Similarly, Asmaa Jabir Balasimah recalled being told by Arab leaders to "evacuate the village & return after the battle is over," & that she & others in her village left all their possessions behind "based on the assumption that we would return after a few hours." 

Again, however (& most importantly), had the Arabs agreed to Partition or even agreed to negotiate different borders with Zionist leaders who begged Azzam Pasha to make any counteroffer instead of invading with #genocidal intent, there would never have been a single Palestinian #refugee.

[world-of-wales]

─ •✧ WILLIAM'S YEAR IN REVIEW : MARCH ✧• ─

1 MARCH - William was accompanied by Catherine for presenting Leeks to the Welsh Guards during the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards St. David's Day Parade at Combermere Barracks. 2 MARCH - William and Catherine received The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway at Windsor Castle. They later held a Meeting with Norwegian business delegates accompanied by the Crown Prince Couple. 6 MARCH - He chaired a Meeting of The Prince's Council. 7 MARCH - William held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. 9 MARCH - William and Catherine were received by Ms. Manju Malhi (Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London) at the Hayes Muslim Centre in Middlesex. 10 MARCH - He received Ms. Hannah Jones (Chief Executive, Earthshot Prize) at Windsor Castle. 13 MARCH - William and Catherine attended the Commonwealth Service in Westminster Abbey. Afterwards, he attended the Commonwealth Day Reception at Buckingham Palace. 14 MARCH - William held a Meeting at Windsor Castle. 16 MARCH - William held an Investiture at Windsor Castle. Afterwards, he visited Aston Villa FC at Bodymoor Heath. 17 MARCH - William accompanied Catherine in presenting Shamrocks to Irish Guards as they attended the 1st Battalion Irish Guards' St. Patrick's Day Parade in Aldershot. He appeared in a TV special with Groundswell for Red Nose Day. 19 MARCH - William wrote a letter to Alpha United Juniors condemning the incidents of racism being faced by their players. 20 MARCH - He received Mr. Alastair Martin (Secretary of the Duchy of Cornwall) at Windsor Castle. 21 MARCH - William held a Meeting with Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez & Pierre-Yves Paslier (Founders, NotPla) 22 MARCH - William departed Royal Air Force Northolt for Poland where he was by His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Poland (Her Excellency Ms. Anna Clunes) upon arrival at Rzeszow-Jasionka International Airport. He met British troops at the Airport. Afterwards, he visited a Rzeszow Military Base in and visited British troops providing support to Poland and Ukraine. Subsequently, William met Ukrainian refugees living in temporary accommodation in Warsaw. In the evening, he was spotted at Butero Bistro having dinner. 23 MARCH - William laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Plac Marszalka Józefa Pilsudskiego and called upon The President of the Republic of Poland at the President's Chancellery. Afterwards, he met Ukrainian refugees at Hala Koszyki. Subsequently, subsequently he met Ukrainian staff from the British Embassy in Kyiv at Hala Koszyki. After completing his visit to Poland, William arrived at the Royal Air Force Northolt from Poland. 24 MARCH - William approved the appointment of the High Sheriff of Cornwall (Mr Toby George Howell Ashworth)

[readingsquotes]

The only way to make sense of Israel’s cruel and self-defeating wars in Gaza is through understanding the historical context. From whatever perspective one chooses to view it, the establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948 involved a monumental injustice to the Palestinians. Three quarters of a million Palestinians became refugees, and the name Palestine was wiped off the map. Israelis call it “The War of Independence”; Palestinians call it the Nakba, or the catastrophe. The most horrific event in the suffering-soaked history of the Jews was the Holocaust. In the history of the Palestinian people, the most traumatic event is the Nakba, which is not in fact a one-off event but the ongoing process of the dispossession and displacement of Palestinian people from their homeland that continues to this day, in the unspeakable horrors being visited by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on Gaza. The United Kingdom was the original sponsor of the Jewish state, going back to the Balfour declaration of 1917. But by 1948, the United States had replaced the UK as the principal backer. British officials bitterly resented American partisanship on behalf of the infant state, although they themselves had enabled and empowered the Zionist takeover of Palestine. The conditions that gave rise to the Nakba were made in Britain. Yet no British government has ever accepted any responsibility for the loss and suffering it brought upon the people of Palestine. In the period since 1948 the western powers, led by the US, have given Israel massive moral, economic and military support, as well as diplomatic protection. The US has used its veto power in the UN Security Council 46 times to defeat resolutions that were not to Israel’s liking. America also gives Israel around $3.8bn in military aid each year, with more this year to enable Israel to sustain its military offensive in Gaza. The trouble with American support for Israel is that it is not conditional on Israeli respect for Palestinian human rights or international law. As a result, Israel gets away, literally, with murder. 

All that remains

Israel has brought death and destruction to Gazans many times. But in retaliation for Hamas’s terrorist acts, it has raised the possibility of something much worse than before: ethnic cleansing

By Avi Shlaim

December 6, 2023

[thisisjamaica]

The acclaimed writer and poet died aged 65. Here, leading contemporaries pay tribute.

Michael Rosen (British author and poet): ‘He nudged people into seeing the world through the eyes of the oppressed.’

Benjamin was a hero to millions of people all over the world. His mix of poetry, novels, wisdom, humour and sheer presence grabbed us and delighted us. I first saw him when he was starting out in the poetry clubs, dancing a poem about his mother, voicing his poetry in a voice I hadn’t heard before: Brummie-Caribbean. It was an honour and treat to work with him many times over the years, on videos, radio programmes, and when he MC’d an award ceremony run by the British Council for the best examples of English teaching. Then and often elsewhere, he loved reflecting on his journey from being a semi-literate teenager, getting into trouble, to someone feted at the highest levels for his literary achievements and force of personality.

His poetry is full of power, humanity and belief. He was a Rastafarian in belief and practice and loved talking about what that meant to him. I hope he won’t mind me saying that his love of all things living reminded me of William Blake. People will remember him, I’m sure, appearing on Question Time gently and wittily batting experienced politicians to one side with his comments. I once asked him how he did it, how did he encapsulate “big” stuff in such pithy, seemingly simple ways. He said that he imagined himself talking with his mother: how would they talk about it, he said?

He wrote novels for teenagers. Refugee Boy – as it sounds – takes the point of view of a refugee and the struggle that people in his area have of winning him asylum. One of the great moments in the book is when the boy reflects on what “problems” the local British boys seem to have compared with the problems he is going through.

That’s what Benjamin did over and over again, nudge people into seeing the world through the eyes of the oppressed.

Some of his wonderful performances are up online. Please look at them as your way of paying tribute to him. My own personal favourite is Rong Radio. I once asked him where he wrote his poems. He said, “I don’t write them. I make them up in my head when I go running.”

I am devastated by this news. I admired, respected and loved Benjamin and I learned so much from him.

Colin Grant (British author and historian): ‘He was the people’s poet.’

It was raining heavily at the Hay festival 20 years ago when I first saw and was mesmerised by Benjamin Zephaniah. The marquee was filled to the rafters with hundreds of people who it seemed were attending not a literary or racial sacrament but a spiritual one. Rain outside; eternal sunshine within.

Benjamin was the trailblazing epitome not of the reductive “ethnic writer” but of the global majority writer who refused to be categorised. In any event, though kind of ordinary, his uniqueness – a karate, yoga and dominoes-loving Rastafarian poet and storyteller – made it impossible to box him in.

For young black writers, he was the answer to literary gatekeepers who claimed there were no commercial prospects for writing that spoke to social deprivation, marginalisation and racism with a plain-speaking honesty and humour.

There was also the realisation that here was a brotherman who’d been a rascal in his youth but had reinvented himself and been saved by literature; that writing could transform the self as well as readers and listeners.

Benjamin was a one-love Rasta, not guided by any kind of separatism. Today, as some default to silos of separation, his porous writing showed how you could speak to an unimagined cohort with poetry and prose. He was, in essence, what Jamaicans call a “simple sense man”; he spoke to youngsters and elders with the same intensity.

The seeming guilelessness of his writing made some wince and claim he was not a real, learned poet. But when you stopped to listen, or clean your glasses, or dry your eyes, you’d find yourself in the presence of a fierce and fearless emotional intelligence. Benjamin’s spoken and written voice was the expression of a writer who was extraordinary in his ordinariness. He was the people’s poet; a groundbreaker who broke bread with everyone.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Rakib Ehsan

Published: Dec 2, 2023

With a wave of anti-Semitism sweeping Britain – and London in particular – you might expect local authorities to jump at the chance to show some solidarity with their Jewish communities.

If so, you’d be wrong. Havering Borough Council is a case in point. On Thursday, it announced it was to cancel this year’s Hanukkah celebrations. The council claimed that erecting and lighting the large menorah outside Havering Town Hall could ‘inflame community tensions’ and lead to vandalism and disruption. (It had already paid for the specially designed menorah.)

On Friday, in the face of a considerable backlash, Havering announced a u-turn. It has been reported that the council had an ‘urgent meeting’ with Jewish community leaders and has since decided that the menorah-lighting event could indeed go ahead later this month.

But this volte-face will do little to erase the damage done by the original, spectacularly ill-judged decision. Indeed, Havering’s initial move to cancel the event has been roundly condemned by those of all faiths and none.

Nazir Afzal, the first Muslim chancellor of Manchester University, pointed out that the celebration of the Jewish festival has nothing at all to do with the war in Gaza. Dr Krish Kandiah, the director of the pro-refugee Sanctuary Foundation, pledged to stand ‘with the Jewish community in Havering’. Hope Not Hate founder Nick Lowles also intervened, saying that the council’s original decision was wrong ‘on every level’.

Muhammad Manwar Ali, an experienced figure in the counter-extremism field, was blunter still. He described the plan to cancel the event as ‘absolutely awful’ and a form of ‘shameless appeasement’. He’s not wrong. Havering seemed more concerned with appeasing anti-Semites than with supporting the local Jewish community.

Havering seemed to think that by cancelling Hanukkah celebrations community tensions would be eased. This is absurd. It would have made them worse. Not only was Havering threatening to cancel a religious celebration that has long brought joy and happiness to the capital; it was also pandering to nasty extremist factions.

Failing to stand in solidarity with British Jews sends a dangerous message. Regardless of your opinion on the conflict in Gaza, Jewish people are not agents of the Israeli government – they simply want to celebrate their religious holiday in peace. Havering was effectively threatening to suppress one religious minority at the presumed behest of another. All because it assumed that the visible display of Jewishness would upset – and potentially anger – the local Muslim community. Which is also incredibly insulting to Muslims.

Havering has not only failed its Jewish residents – it has also undermined religious freedom more generally. This kind of decision, although it has been reversed, still sets a sinister precedent. It suggests that the feelings of some minority groups should take priority over the rights of others.

If we want to build a truly harmonious and diverse society, we cannot capitulate to bigots who may take offence to harmless religious rituals. Now more than ever, we must rise above tribal identity politics in Britain. We need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with British Jews and send the clear message that anti-Semitism and hatred will not win.

==

Imagine the cries of "Islamophobia" if, for example, Ramadan activities were cancelled. Imagine the protests and the violence that would have unfolded.

Now, notice how they were not even asked to cancel Hanukkah, they just voluntarily did so to placate the perceived offence of one group over another.

Not only were the Jews supposed to just quietly accept this, but it tells you the privileged position Islam occupies, even when nobody actively seeks to exercise that privilege.

[sanguinosa-blog]

The formation of the Palestinian state is a starting point.

On the 12th, the United Nations held an emergency special session and adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. 153 countries, more than three-quarters, voted in favor, while 10 countries including the United States and Israel opposed, and 23 countries abstained. International backlash against the United States, supporting Israel and backing the massacre, is increasing.

◇ Israel is likely to lose support from the international community.

The genocide by the Israeli military against Palestinians has devastated the northern region, and the attacks have shifted to the southern region. Of the 2.2 million Gaza residents, 1.8 million evacuated according to the Israeli military's "evacuate to the south" instructions, but now those evacuation locations are under attack, with hundreds of locations being bombed daily.

On the 13th of this month, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that the death toll since the start of the fighting on October 7th was 18,412, and the number of injured was over 50,000. The Israeli military began a "water siege" operation on the 12th, pouring seawater into underground tunnels to kill Hamas leaders, and the brutality of the Israeli military is going beyond the norm.

Even US President Biden, who vetoed the resolution calling for a ceasefire at the UN Security Council on the 8th and defended the Gaza massacre as an exercise of self-defense, criticized, saying, "The Netanyahu government must change."

◇ The "two-state solution" proposal is being discussed once again.

In 1947, a year before the end of the British Mandate for Palestine, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution dividing the region into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs. However, in 1948, after Israel declared independence, five Arab League countries declared war, leading to the First Arab-Israeli War. As a result, Israel won and established a state, and many Palestinians were expelled as refugees.

The Labor Party once pointed out, "If the Arabs had accepted the 'Palestine' state proposal at that time, the history of Palestine might have been different. The subsequent struggle between Arabs and Jews in the Palestinian region has become barren, grim, and a quagmire with no prospect of resolution until now" ('Kaitsubame' No. 1157, October 2, 2011).

Amidst such circumstances, the international momentum for the "two-state solution" has increased since the shock of the October 7th military attack and Israel's Gaza offensive. Wang Yi, a member of the Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, who was previously passive about the Palestinian issue, stated after the UN Security Council meeting on November 19th, "The 'two-state solution' is the only way to solve the Palestinian issue," and proposed the early convening of a large-scale international peace conference with authority and effectiveness (China declared its participation in the power struggle in the Middle East under the pretext of promoting peace). On November 27th, the "two-state solution" was agreed upon at the Arab-EU Foreign Ministers' meeting.

The international momentum for the "two-state solution" that has grown in the wake of the October 7th attack has led to proposals from various countries, including China, the United States, and bourgeois nations, to create an international institution or something similar for the formation of the Palestinian state, and there is no objection to the active participation of Palestinians. "Two-state solution is impossible," says the one-state solution advocate (Iran, Pape). "Reconstruction of relations under the principles of correct democracy" and "Victory in the liberation struggle means creating a democratic state that includes all the people living in that land" ('Ten Myths About Israel'). Israel has begun a war of aggression to oppress and control Palestine. Beautifying democracy is nothing more than following bourgeois states.

◇ Israel and the United States, refusing peace, must take responsibility!

"(The Netanyahu government) does not want anything like approaching the 'two-state solution'" (Biden), and the Netanyahu government has consistently taken a position of refusal. However, support for Netanyahu in Israel is low (28% on November 11th), and he is instigating a war for war, even encouraging the war for the destruction of Hamas, to maintain power. The Israeli military announced that it would take several months to destroy Hamas.

One of the factors that made the resolution of the Palestinian issue difficult was the "Vision for Peace" proposed by Trump in 2020, which advocated a "realistic two-state solution." Based on the current situation (Israel occupying 61% of the total and only 39% of the area under Palestinian autonomy, which is also fragmented), the proposal suggested a "two-state solution" for the benefit of Israel. Taking advantage of the proposal, Netanyahu has expanded settlements in the occupied West Bank, suppressed Palestinians, and under the protection of the Netanyahu government, 700,000 people have been advancing the Israelization of Palestine in 150 settlements, violating Israel's domestic law.

The U.S. has supported Israel economically and militarily as the frontline against the Arabs. Israel does not allow less than 39% of the Palestinian Autonomous Region to be under the control of the autonomous government, and it controls everything, including infrastructure, economy, and movement. The U.S. has nurtured and assisted Israel in becoming a militaristic state that oppresses and dominates Palestine.

If the United States seriously considers the "two-state solution," it must immediately stop military support for Israel and withdraw Israeli troops and Jewish settlers from the West Bank Autonomous Region. Only when the United States refrains from exercising its veto power at the Security Council and takes the first step toward "sanctions" against Israel, will the construction of the Palestinian state make significant progress.

The Netanyahu government, which justifies the extermination of Palestinians for "its own security," is trying to turn Gaza into "Auschwitz." The accomplice United States must take responsibility for Netanyahu's "great crime."

◇The formation of the Palestinian state is the starting point of the workers' struggle.

The misfortune of Palestine lies in the corrupt Abbas government of the autonomous region, which manipulates aid to various countries for its own benefit, and has become a corrupt regime tainted with corruption and decadence (demand for Abbas's resignation was 75% in a December 20 survey). The political opposition to this has been represented by the struggle of religious political organizations, such as the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), rooted in the teachings of Islam. The urgent task for the people of Palestine is the construction of a Marxist political organization that fundamentally criticizes the ideological positions of nationalism and Islamic movements.

For the workers, the "two-state solution" is neither the goal nor the endpoint but the starting point of the struggle. With the formation of a democratic state in Palestine as a starting point, the working class of Palestine, within the framework of the "nation-state," initiates a struggle to elevate themselves to the ruling class—namely, the struggle of the working class, with the liberation of labor as its objective, begins.

The formation of the Palestinian state will bring conditions for the Palestinian workers and Israeli workers to overthrow their respective governments based on a common position of internationalism and to unite in solidarity for the liberation of labor.

The task for the Israeli working class, which has undergone capitalist development, is the overthrow of capital's dominance and the liberation of labor. This struggle is also a fight to overthrow the Netanyahu government, which oppresses and economically usurps Palestine, and its coalition with religious Zionism and extreme right-wing parties advocating Jewish supremacism.

The fusion of Israeli and Arab workers will be realized within the context of the workers' world revolution that transcends "ethnicity" and the nation-state.

Workers Party aiming for the liberation of labor. from ”Umitsubame” No.1465 24/12/2023 https://www.facebook.com/SappDasKapital/posts/pfbid02UvDADEeDtMF8N4o97AY1yRcX15xR7qx65Apz5cxpvxdmkUVdDF646mejWWeduFT3l

[grandmaster-anne]

Court Circular | 30th March 2023

Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

The King and The Queen Consort, accompanied by His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (Her Excellency Mrs Jill Gallard) and Ms Franziska Giffey (Governing Mayor of Berlin), this morning signed the City’s Golden Book before His Majesty called upon Mr Olaf Scholz (Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany) at the Federal Chancellery, Berlin. The King and The Queen Consort afterwards visited Wittenbergplatz Market and were received by the Managing Director of Berlin-Brandenburg Farmers’ Market (Ms Silvia Hintsche). Their Majesties subsequently attended a Plenary Session at the Bundestag and were received by the President of the Bundestag (Ms Bärbel Bas). Ms Bas welcomed The King and The Queen Consort and His Majesty addressed the Session. The King this afternoon visited the Ukraine Arrivals Centre, Tegel Refugee Centre, Berlin, and was received by The President of the Federal Republic of Germany. His Majesty afterwards visited Wasserstrassen und Schifffahrtsamt, Finowfurt, and was received by the Minister President of Brandenburg (Dr Dietmar Woidke). The King, accompanied by the Federal President of Germany, viewed a static display of a British amphibious bridge and a mechanised infantry vehicle before viewing the completion of the amphibious bridge. His Majesty walked on to the bridge and spoke to a group of British and German soldiers. The King later visited Brodowin Organic Farm, Ökodorf Brodowin, Weissensee, Chorin, and was received by Mr and Ms Ludolf von Maltzan (Owners). His Majesty toured the dairy and viewed the ripening rooms before meeting members of the farm staff and young farmers. The Queen Consort, accompanied by Ms Büdenbender (wife of The President of the Federal Republic of Germany), this afternoon visited Refugio Café, Berlin. Her Majesty and Ms Büdenbender afterwards visited Komische Oper, Berlin.

St James’s Palace

The Princess Royal, Patron, the Injured Jockeys Fund, this morning opened their South West Hub at Taunton Rugby Club, Veritas Park, Hyde Lane, Taunton, and, having been received by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset (Mr Mohammed Saddiq), this afternoon attended a Reception at Taunton Racecourse. Her Royal Highness later opened Weston College’s Health and Active Living Skills Centre, Loxton Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Kensington Palace

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester this morning attended the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch Reception at Guildhall, Gresham Street, London EC2.

St James’s Palace

The Duke of Kent, Patron, the Society for Army Historical Research, this morning received Major General Ashley Truluck (Chairman) and Members of the Society’s Council and was presented with the Fellowship of the Society.

[head-post]

Russia accused British Council of conducting reconnaissance for UK intelligence services

Russian security services uncovered the activities of the UK governmental organisation British Council, which was conducting reconnaissance in Kherson Oblast for Ukraine’s interests.

Officially, the British Council co-operates with Kyiv in the field of education, culture and art, but its activities are believed to be just a disguise for the work of the British security services.

The British Council is allegedly using Ukrainian refugees living in the UK, persuading them to obtain intelligence information through relatives and close friends living in Kherson Oblast. The people involved in the scheme collect coordinates and help guide missiles.

Read more HERE

[girlactionfigure]

The Brave Headmaster: Dr. Erich Klibansky

He saved five entire classes.

Dr. Erich Klibansky was the headmaster of a Jewish high school in Germany who saved dozens of his students by teaching them English and arranging for them to join the Kindertransport to safety in Great Britain.

Born in Frankfurt to a religious family in 1900, Erich was an exceptional student who studied history, German literature and Romanian languages at university. He married Meta David and together they moved to Breslau, where they both taught at Jewish schools. Their son Hans-Rafael was born in 1928, and the next year the family moved to Cologne, where they had two more sons, Alexander and Michael. Erich became headmaster at the Yavne Jewish gymnasium (high school) in Cologne. It was the only Jewish high school in that part of Germany, the Rhineland. Yavne was a co-ed school teaching both Jewish and secular subjects. His wife Meta also worked at Yavne teaching English. The family found a spacious apartment in Volksgartenstrasse, a desirable part of town.

Erich – known to his students as Dr. Klibansky – was immediately popular with students and staff at the school. They appreciated his warm manner and personal interest in every student, as well as his strong leadership at a difficult time.

Germany was in a severe economic crisis, and as a private school Yavne didn’t get any subsidy from the state. Erich’s job as headmaster became focused on fundraising. Motivated to ensure that any Jewish student in Cologne could get a good education despite financial hardship, Erich successfully raised money to keep the school open. As his reputation grew, young Jews started coming to Yavneh from outside Cologne and soon the newcomers made up a quarter of the student body.

As the Nazis came to power in the 1930’s the situation grew grim for Jews in Germany. In 1937 the Klibansky family was forced out of their nice apartment in Volksgartenstrasse and relocated to a tiny flat in a squalid slum. After the Kristallnacht pogrom in November 1938, it became clear there was no future for Jews in Germany. At this point, Erich’s mission as headmaster of Yavne changed. Previously, the school was focused on training the students for exams and university but now the only important thing was survival. He heard about the Kindertransport, an organized rescue effort bringing Jewish children from Nazi-controlled areas to safety in England. Erich determined to get his students on the Kindertransport, and in fact hoped to relocate the entire school to England.

He re-focused the school curriculum to provide intensive English-language instruction for all students in preparation for their escape. Erich reached out to prominent Jews in London and got support for his plan to move Yavne high school to England. The Central British Council for Refugees arranged for the students to stay in a college dormitory.

By summer 1939, Erich was able to send five entire classes of students – a total of 130 people – on the Kindertransport to England. His plan was to get all the students out and then join them in England with his family. However everything came to a halt when war broke out in 1939. The borders were sealed, as was the fate of the Klibansky family and those students who hadn’t left yet. Erich, his wife and three young sons managed to hide from the Nazis until July 1942, when they were arrested and transported to an unknown location. On July 25, the family of five was shot in a wooded area in Belarus and, dying, dumped in a prepared pit.

The brave headmaster’s story has been largely forgotten, but in 1990 a square in Cologne where Yavne high school used to be was dedicated to him and renamed the Erich Klibansky Platz.

For saving the lives of 130 Jewish students, we honor Erich Klibansky as this week’s Thursday Hero.

[thistle-nightshade]

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi

This is a well written book, but it is a dense history text. I encourage those who can read it, but for those short on time or unable to parse the text, here are the main points I was able to draw out, with links to articles concerning the major topics.

1917 Balfour Declaration: a British document committing Britain to the creation of a national Jewish homeland. Makes no mention of the Palestinians.

1922 Mandate for Palestine: formalized British governance over Palestine, expanded upon the Balfour Declaration, paved the way for national rights of the Jewish people, attempted to erase Palestinian historical ties to the land while highlighting a Jewish historical connection.

Jews begin to flee Nazi Germany. With many antisemitic immigration laws in place, Palestine was the only option for many.

1936-1939 Great Revolt: grassroots uprising in Palestine that lead to a 6 month general strike against the British.

Nakba (The Catastrophe)

1947 UN General Assembly Resolution 181: UN General Assembly decides in favor or a partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish States. This would pave the way for 80% of the area’s Arab population to be forced from their homes, losing their land and property.

1948 Israel Established

Security Council Resolution 242 : called for withdrawal of Israel, but ambiguous language was exploited to delay this process.

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): formed to centralize leadership of Palestinian resistance movement

Israel Invades Lebanon against the PLO

Bombing of Beirut 1982

Israel backed by US with US weapons. US fails to protect noncombatants in the region.

Sabra and Shatila massacres of refugee camps.

Intifada: wide spread grassroots uprising born of decades of Palestinian frustrations. This included demonstrations, strikes, boycotts, withholding taxes, and other civil disobedience.

Israel had a brutal “break bones” policy in response in order to try and break the uprising.

1897 Hamas forms. There was initial support from Israel because it was believed this would weaken the PLO.

Oslo Accords

Palestine Authority granted highly restrictive self rule that did not include control of land, water, or borders.

Policy of Seperation

Gaza severed from the West Bank, West Bank severed from Jerusalem. Permits required to pass through Israeli checkpoints.

2006 elections give Hamas control of the Gaza strip. The siege imposed by Israel after the fact lead to what has been titled the ‘open air prison’ of Gaza.

After this point, there was a large escalation in violence including Hamas suicide bombers attacking Israel, Israeli military incursions into Palestine, and War on Gaza.

“While the fundamentally colonial nature of the Palestine-Israel encounter must be acknowledged, there are now two peoples in Palestine, irrespective of how they came into being, and the conflict between them cannot be resolved as long as the national existence of each is denied by the other. Their mutual acceptance can only be based on complete equality of rights, including national rights, not withstanding the crucial historical differences between the two.”

[istherewifiinhell]

By Linah Alsaafin, Nils Adler and Brian Osgood

Published On 20 Jan 202420 Jan 2024

Netanyahu rejects Biden’s suggestion that he is open to a two-state solution. “No compromise” on Israeli control west of Jordan River, he said on X.

Palestinian Health Ministry says 165 Palestinians were killed and 280 wounded in Gaza over a 24-hour period.

Several Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on a civilian car in Rafah, and on Jabalia and al-Bureij refugee camps.

Footage and witness accounts shared with Al Jazeera reveal how Israeli forces carried out summary executions in Gaza last month.

At least 24,927 people have been killed and 62,388 were wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attack stands at 1,139.

Israel’s war on Gaza live: Netanyahu rejects end of war deal

By Ali Harb

Published On 21 Jan 2024

Netanyahu rejects any deal with Hamas for the release of captives that would end the war, despite calls from Israeli politicians.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says 178 Palestinians were killed and 293 injured in 24 hours, with attacks nearing Khan Younis’s vital Nasser Hospital.

Israeli government approves deal for frozen tax funds for the occupied West Bank and Gaza to be held in Norway, instead of being transferred to the Palestinian Authority. The latter rejects any conditions placed on its receipt of the tax revenue.

At least 25,105 people have been killed and 62,681 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attack stands at 1,139.

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27m ago (21:30 GMT)

Houthi official stresses Red Sea attacks are to stop war in Gaza

Mohammed Abdulsalam says the Yemeni group is targeting ships linked to Israel to pressure the country to end its “criminal and fascist aggression” against the Gaza Strip.

Abdulsalam accused the administration of US President Joe Biden, which has been pushing to separate the attacks from the war on Gaza, of trying to blatantly “mislead” the world.

“America itself must stop escaping responsibility by creating crises that no one needs and end the aggression against Gaza,” he wrote in a social media post.

He added that Yemen will defend itself against violations of its sovereignty, referring to US-led attacks against the Houthis.

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57m ago (21:00 GMT)

‘Enough is enough’: British MP urges ending arms sales to Israel

Labour Party legislator Richard Burgon has also called on the United Kingdom’s government to push for a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution.

“25,000 dead in Gaza. The Israeli PM making it clear he’s against any two-state solution,” Burgon wrote in a social media post. “Yet all we get from our Government is empty words. Enough is enough.”

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1h ago (20:30 GMT)

Injured children arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis

Some of those injured in the latest Israeli attacks on Khan Younis have arrived at the city’s Nasser Hospital, where doctors have said they are struggling to deal with the continuous influx of patients amid continuous Israeli attacks.

&

1h ago (20:45 GMT)

Palestinian child killed in Israeli attack on Khan Younis

At least one child has been killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday night in western Khan Younis.

The child was brought to the city’s Nasser Hospital, but was dead upon arrival.

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2h ago (19:45 GMT)

Israeli raids on Batn al-Samin area in southern Khan Younis

Large explosions can be seen in the distance of footage captured by a local journalist, Amr Tabash, in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. The footage has been verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking unit.

Khan Younis has been the focus of recent Israeli attacks, despite the large number of Palestinians who have fled to the area from northern Gaza.

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2h ago (19:30 GMT)

Israeli jets flying over south Beirut

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports the heavy presence of Israeli aircraft over Mount Lebanon and Dahiyeh, the south Beirut suburb where Hezbollah’s leadership is thought to be based.

An Israeli attack killed Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Dahiyeh early in January.

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2h ago (19:15 GMT)

Protesters in Brussels call for ceasefire in Gaza

Hundreds of people have marched in the centre of the Belgian capital Brussels, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave.

“The point [of the protest] is to insist on the fact that there is no military solution to this conflict, which has led to far too many deaths, and which has created an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” said Gregory Mauze, the spokesperson for the Belgo-Palestinian Association.

“Now is the time for Belgium and the European Union to say that not only must this war end and there must be a ceasefire, but also we must take action to force Israel to end its murderous offensive, which is directed not against Hamas, but against the whole of the Palestinian people.”

[ingek73]

UK politicians have got it wrong on the Israel-Hamas war. We must hold them to account

Tory and Labour reluctance to criticise the Israeli government could make our leaders complicit in war crimes – the public needs to speak outWed 18 Oct 2023 10.58 CEST

What value a Palestinian civilian life? For Britain’s political establishment, the answer is precious little. Revulsion at the slaughter of Israeli civilians – partygoers, kibbutzniks, children, elderly people – at the hands of Hamas is a moral imperative. Tragic, then, that the righteous consensus over the sanctity of life ends at Israel’s borders. Both the Conservative government and Labour opposition have become supporters of wanton violations of the Geneva conventions, war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

As Rishi Sunak offers Israel “unequivocal” support, it is worth unpacking what that means. In the last nine days, at least 2,750 Palestinians have perished under Israeli bombs, about a quarter of them children, according to the Gaza health ministry. Not a word of grief or regret from our prime minister: their slaughter, presumably, is subsumed into what he describes as Israel’s “every right to defend itself”. No condemnation of the bombing of ambulances and electricity-deprived hospitals, or of the killing of medics, journalists and UN officials.

Sunak’s only words of caution were to call on Israeli forces to “avoid harming civilians”. A useless gesture: the Israeli state he has declared full support for is hardly being subtle about its intentions. “The emphasis is on damage and not on accuracy,” say the Israel Defence Forces. Sunak will be aware that the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, proclaimed: “We are fighting human animals” as he ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza with “no electricity, no food, no fuel”, adding that Israel intends to “eliminate everything”.

Now is the time for Sunak to familiarise himself with article 33 of the Geneva conventions, on collective punishment, which decrees that “no protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed”. The consequence of a siege de facto endorsed by our government? Gaza is “running dry”, declares the UN agency for Palestine refugees, and in the schools where many have sought shelter “clean water has actually run out”.

When civilian populations were driven from their homes with the threat of violence in the Balkans in the 1990s, it was termed “ethnic cleansing”, and the west went to war over it. This time, the UK stands “unequivocally” with Israel as it orders people in Gaza to flee their homes en masse, described by the Norwegian Refugee Council as “the war crime of forcible transfer”, while Francesca Albanese, the UN special raporteur on the Palestinian territories, warns of mass ethnic cleansing.

After thousands marched in London against these undisputed war crimes, we heard a counterblast familiar in moments such as this: where are your demonstrations against Hamas’s atrocities? Hamas’s killings have been roundly denounced. And Hamas is not armed or backed by the British state and its allies. Alongside invaluable diplomatic cover, the UK has licensed at least £442m worth of arms to Israel since 2015, while our chief ally, the US, provides about $3bn in military assistance each year. As the Conservative MP Crispin Blunt rightly says of Britain’s support for Israel’s invasions of Gaza: “The fact of being complicit makes you equally guilty to the party carrying out the crime.”

And what of our Labour opposition, led by former human rights lawyer Keir Starmer? After all, in his leadership campaign, pledge number four was “no more illegal wars” and to “put human rights at the heart of foreign policy”. Of all the pledges he has now broken, this is the most unforgivable. On national radio, he declared that Israel “has the right” to cut water and energy from a civilian population, while emphasising his respect for international law. Given his vocation, Starmer is either incompetent or dishonest: such a siege is by definition illegal. Starmer condemned the strike on al-Ahli hospital (for which both sides are blaming the other), saying that the resultant deaths “cannot be justified”. He once again cited international laws that he was happy to bend when it came to the siege.

His attorney general, Emily Thornberry, is similarly a lawyer with no ignorance to plead: yet on national television she refused to condemn the illegality of cutting off food and electricity. The foreign secretary, David Lammy, refuses to answer whether he supports Israel’s orders for people in Gaza to leave. A Labour briefing sent to MPs answers the question “What is Labour’s position on reports that Israel has been using white phosphorus?” – an illegal act if used against a civilian population – with “We support Israel’s right to defend itself and rescue hostages”, along with a seemingly contradictory confirmation that international law must be respected. They broadcast their complicity, while silencing any dissenters: this weekend, Labour MPs and councillors were cautioned against attending the march protesting at this massacre.

No wonder Labour councillors are resigning across the country, citing their party “effectively endorsing a war crime”. Last week, Young Labour BAME officer Lubaba Khalid resigned. Three days later, she reported that her cousin – a young girl – died in an Israeli strike.

As the horror mounts, Labour leaders issue feeble statements about how “Israel’s defence must be in line with international law”, when they know full well that it isn’t, and that they helped offer a green light for this criminality. For years, these preening so-called moderates issued liberal platitudes about a “rules-based order”. Their right to assert a moral high ground has perished for ever. If they will not speak out against a blockade of Gaza, they will be endorsing what the international criminal court’s founding prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, says “could be considered a crime against humanity and a genocide”.

These war crimes may have the blessing of our political establishment, but expect an ever-growing backlash from a public that hasn’t forgotten previous calamities endorsed by our leaders. It was a Labour government, backed unstintingly by the Tories, that brought us the calamitous military adventures after September 11, justified – like Israel’s attacks – as self-defence.

The consequences? Up to 4.7 million deaths, and for what? Our failure to hold politicians to account is what allows these horrors to endlessly repeat. Don’t let it happen again. There isn’t even the pretence that a Palestinian life has equal worth to an Israeli or British civilian. But their lives do matter, and those who condemn children to perish under rubble should be damned for ever.

Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist

[standwithpalestine123]

STAND WITH PALESTINE

From my perspective as an immigrant living in Paris, I come from a diverse background, with half of my ancestry being Jewish and the other half Irish. In the United States, my home country, there is a national holiday that celebrates the fight for political autonomy, even though there were casualties on both sides. Meanwhile, my Jewish family commemorates the flight of the Jews from slavery in Egypt through an annual feast. As for my Irish heritage, I was taught to revere the Easter Rising, which was the Irish people's uprising against British occupiers, despite the fact that they ultimately suffered greater casualties and were not successful in their endeavor. Here in my adopted home, there is also a national holiday that marks the people's rising against their hereditary masters, the nobility. It is important to acknowledge that none of these struggles were easy, and they all came at a price in blood, often from both sides involved.

To gain a clearer understanding of the history of Israel as a nation, we must revisit its establishment in 1948 by the five-nation U.N. Security Council, who were the dominant powers of that time. In 1922, Jews accounted for approximately 12% of the population in the Palestine Mandate, an area under British control. However, Western powers began encouraging Jewish immigration to Palestine, resulting in Jews comprising 32% of the population by 1947. A year later, after the influx of Jewish refugees from the death camps of Nazi Germany, they became the majority by hundreds of thousands. The U.N. Security Council, for various reasons (none of which were particularly favorable to Jews), declared the division of Palestine into two nations: a Jewish Israel and an Arab Palestine. Unfortunately, this division did not work as intended, as Israel was home to a significant number of Palestinians who became second-class citizens due to the terms of the division. This led to war, with Israel emerging as the victor. Since then, Palestinians have been living in a semi-stateless condition, and Israelis have been able to commit acts of violence against them with impunity, whether it be individual acts or mass atrocities.

In summary, the history of this conflict is stained with bloodshed on all sides, but it is the Palestinians who have consistently borne the brunt of the suffering. Despite this, in the aftermath of the recent events involving Hamas, even the mainstream media and those who typically sympathize with the Palestinian cause are deploring the bloodshed caused by the Israeli forces.

It is essential to note that none of this is to justify the indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians, which is an abhorrent act with no moral justification. In fact, such acts are considered war crimes according to international law. However, when examining history and the concept of national karma, numbers and context matter. It is crucial to consider who started the conflict and what provoked it. Throughout history, war crime codes have never been applied to the winners of wars. For instance, no tribunal has ever tried the United States for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or the firebombing of Dresden. As a recent former U.S. President once observed, the winners often evade accountability for war crimes while the losers face prosecution. However, history and karma are aware that for the past 75 years, Israel has been attempting to forcibly remove or exterminate the Palestinians, who are a captive people. The latter constitutes the crime of genocide, and the number of victims of this ongoing crime committed by Israel far surpasses the number of victims on the Palestinian side.

Therefore, dear friends, while the Hamas assault can be characterized as a violent and brutal act, which is criminal under international law, it should not be labeled as an invasion. It is and continues to be a violent and brutal uprising against a murderous occupying force. I urge you to reflect upon where your sympathies usually lie, where they lie today, and to consider the reasons behind this shift in perspective.

[thessalian]

Thess vs News Updates

Here’s what’s going on in the UK at the moment:

Trans Rights: Well, the Tories want to change the wording of the Equal Rights Act - specifically, changing ‘sex’ to ‘biological sex’. Which we all know is a dogwhistle for transphobic bullshit. Yep, they want the ERA to differentiate between those born a specific gender and those who are a specific gender, almost certainly to delegitimise the latter if they aren’t also the former. So transphobic bullshit. Best of all, the leader of the Labour Party, Kier Starmer, is agreeing with this bullshit. Of course, there’s almost nothing that the Tories have proposed that Starmer hasn’t agreed with lately. Point being, there’s nowhere for trans people to go, politically speaking, to protect their rights. I’m legit terrified and also full of self-loathing because of the whole issue of “I can pass”. I do pass, more or less all the time, and I’m sick of having to, but I’m also sick with fear at the idea of not doing so. Plus I don’t even know if I really have any right to complain or worry because I don’t know where “none of the above” even falls here. I mean, clearly nowhere. Between my gender presentation and my sexual orientation, I basically don’t exist and I’m not sure what’s worse; not existing, or people killing me to make me stop existing. I guess either way, we’re fucked.

Asylum-Seekers: They’re putting refugees on a fucking barge. They’re going to arrange ‘basic accommodation’ on a barge they’ve leased, and they’re going to put five hundred or so asylum seekers in it. These poor people have fled a bad situation, come to a country where they have a hope in hell of surviving, and because the only way they could get here was in a tiny boat, they’re going to be crammed into accommodations that cannot possibly be on a par with even a fucking prison. Which is pretty much accurate since they’re criminalising the whole thing. If Rwanda weren’t landlocked, I’d say it’s just an easier way to deport the poor sods, but in a way, it’s worse. The people of South Dorset, where the barge would be docked, don’t like this idea. It’s a very Tory area. The MP for the borough is already complaining about it. What’s to stop some asshole trying to sink or torch the thing with people on it? That’s not even taking into account the whole thing where, despite the “business opportunities” the chief exec of Portland Port (don's ask) says this move will bring to the area, it’s going to be a nightmare for the refugees. They’re going to be treated abysmally by the locals, if the MP for the area’s opinions match even some of those in his constituency. This is disgusting on so many levels.

Everything Else: Honestly, the barge thing is swallowing up everything else, and I swear it’s another dead cat. There are probably going to be more strikes by both postal workers and teachers since talks keep ending with no deal. Prices are still skyrocketing. A look at the sheer amount of raw sewage that this country dumped into the various waterways in 2022 is absolutely grotesque. Don’t even get me started on prices and inflation. But no, we’re all yelling about putting refugees on a fucking barge. Which we should not be doing, and which everyone from the ECRH to the Refugee Council to Amnesty International to the fucking UN says we should not be doing. But this is how British politics works now; bury all the other disgusting shit under one particularly huge piece of shit so that the other disgusting shit slides under the radar and out of the news cycles.

I haven’t been feeling very well today anyway, but all of this really makes me want to vomit.

[cyarskj1899]

CONTAINED OUTRAGE: Outgoing Arizona Gov. Ducey tries one last MAGA stunt before he leaves

Sent from my iPhone

CONTAINED OUTRAGE: Outgoing Arizona Gov. Ducey tries one last MAGA stunt before he leaves

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We’re all familiar with the Great Wall of China. And some of you may have heard of the Great Hedge in India, used by the British to control the salt trade. Well, now another type of barrier – in Arizona – may go down in the history books. Decrying an “invasion” from Mexico, outgoing Governor Doug Ducey has tried to contain it with – well – containers.

Using 9’ by 40’, 8800-pound shipping containers owned by the state, Ducey has been plugging holes in Donald Trump’s notorious border wall.

The containers are topped with razor wire and currently stretch for some 3 miles. Ducey had started around Yuma, but now has plans to spend $95 million adding another 10 miles – likely a complete waste of money, considering that incoming governor Katie Hobbs has promised to remove the ad hoc barrier.

Ducey is also almost certainly trespassing on federal land.

“There’s just no question that this is federal property,” Dinah Bear, formerly with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, told The Guardian. “There’s no legal difference between the land they’re putting the shipping containers on and Grand Canyon national park.”

Ducey filed a lawsuit in October disputing this fact, which is now before Judge David Campbell. The U.S. Forest Service is looking for a court order to avoid any conflict with local authorities.

In addition to the U.S. government, the Cocopah Indian Tribe has also spoken out against Ducey’s wall, saying that some of it encroaches upon their reservation.

And there’s been criticism from scientists as well: the Center for Biological Diversity has noted that the containers hurt certain migratory species that typically cross over the area.

Of course, keeping out migrating animals and keeping out humans are two entirely different balls of wax. Generally, such obstacles don’t pose much of a challenge to human crossers, especially since they can be extraordinarily difficult to guard.

It’s reported that the Great Hedge in India took some 12,000 British officers working in shifts to maintain

Also worth noting is the fact that – despite Republican claims to the contrary – the overwhelming majority of illegal drugs that come over the border – more than 90% – come through legal points of entry and through the mail.

Fentanyl isn’t being carried by undocumented workers trying to sneak into the country; it’s going through the ports of California and being delivered by the USPS.

Ducey is probably just trying to stand out in a field of Republican hardliners (some might say “assholes” is a more apt description).

There’s Greg Abbott of Texas, who has been shipping out migrants by bus. And Ron DeSantis, who is so intent on being an asshole that he literally goes to other states to find undocumented workers to abuse.

Douchey (whoops! – meant Ducey) is competing against them and perhaps trying to distinguish himself, even if it means wasting tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer money on an eyesore that won’t do anything to change the situation.

Good job, Douchey!

Sent from my iPhone

[refugeesjobsite]

Refugees Job Posting Site: Tips for Refugees Seeking Employment

Navigating the job market in a new country can be challenging, especially for refugees who are adjusting to a different culture and workforce norms. However, with the right strategies and resources, refugees can successfully transition into meaningful employment. This guide provides practical tips on how to leverage previous experience, where to seek help, and the essential training needed to develop skills for the Canadian job market.

How to Translate Your Previous Experience into the Canadian Workforce

One of the first steps in the job search process is effectively translating your previous work experience into a format that resonates with Canadian employers. Here are some key strategies to consider:

Understand Canadian Job Market Expectations: Canadian employers often look for specific formats and terminologies. Familiarize yourself with local resume styles, such as using a clear and concise format that highlights relevant skills and accomplishments. Tailor your resume to match job descriptions and emphasize transferable skills.

Highlight Transferable Skills: Focus on skills that are applicable across different roles and industries. For example, if you have experience in project management, emphasize your ability to lead teams, manage deadlines, and deliver results. Use clear examples and quantify achievements whenever possible.

Translate Qualifications and Certifications: If you hold qualifications or certifications from your home country, ensure they are recognized in Canada. You may need to get your credentials assessed by a Canadian professional body to understand how they align with local standards.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should bridge the gap between your previous experience and the Canadian job market. Use it to explain how your background makes you a strong candidate for the role, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for contributing to the organization.

To seek better employment opportunities for asylum seekers in Canada unique skills and qualifications will boost your CV. We can help you, call us.

Where to Find Help with Job Search and Integration

Finding the right resources and support can significantly ease the job search process. Here are some valuable avenues to explore:

Community Organizations: Many non-profit organizations and community groups offer specialized services for refugees, including job placement assistance, career counseling, and skills training. Examples include the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia and the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. These organizations can provide personalized guidance and connect you with local job opportunities.

Government Programs: The Canadian government offers various programs aimed at helping newcomers integrate into the workforce. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website provides information on employment services, training programs, and funding options for refugee job seekers.

Online Job Portals: Utilize online job portals that cater specifically to refugees, such as the Refugees Job Site. These platforms not only list job opportunities but also offer resources like resume-building tools and interview preparation tips.

At our Refugees Job Posting Site, our mission is to empower refugees across Canada by connecting them with meaningful employment opportunities that not only align with their skills and experiences but also help them integrate into their new communities.

Networking Opportunities: Building a professional network can open doors to job opportunities. Attend industry-specific events, workshops, and networking sessions to meet potential employers and mentors. Many cities also host job fairs and community gatherings that focus on refugee employment.

Essential Training for Refugees to Develop Skills

In addition to leveraging previous experience and seeking support, acquiring new skills is crucial for securing employment in Canada. Consider the following training opportunities:

Language Training: Proficiency in English or French is often essential for most jobs in Canada. Enroll in language courses or programs specifically designed for refugees to improve your communication skills. Many community organizations and educational institutions offer free or low-cost language training.

Job-Specific Skills: Depending on your desired field, you may need additional training or certification. Look for courses and workshops that offer skills relevant to your industry, such as computer software training, trade certifications, or customer service skills.

Cultural Competency Training: Understanding Canadian workplace culture can enhance your employability. Workshops on cultural norms, workplace etiquette, and professional communication can help you better navigate the work environment and integrate smoothly into your new role.

Soft Skills Development: Employers value soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Participate in training programs that focus on developing these skills, as they are essential for career success and can set you apart from other candidates.

Conclusion

Navigating the job market as a refugee in Canada requires a strategic approach that involves translating your previous experience, seeking out the right resources, and continuously developing your skills. By understanding local job market expectations, utilizing available support services, and investing in essential training, you can enhance your employability and successfully integrate into the Canadian workforce.