Category: 6 Special Posts

President Trump’s decision regarding the Golan Heights and American-Israeli oil interests

Hello again. After my last post my computer crashed and it has taken a little while to fix everything. The horrible terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, have had serious consequences for example in Britain, where amount of anti-Muslim hate crimes increased by 593% in the week after the attack (1). While we are still trying to find out all the reasons why the Australian man became a white supremacist terrorist, this post is about slightly another kind of right-wing politics.

President Trump made controversial and provocative decision by formally recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over Israel-occupied Golan Heights. Trump’s declaration was condemned widely. According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “clear that the status of Golan has not changed.” The Arab League said that “Trump’s recognition does not change the area’s status.” (2, 3)

Trump’s decision has been seen as an attempt to help Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to win the parliamentary elections next month (2), but there may be other reasons, as well. In 2013, Israel granted the first license to explore for oil and gas in the occupied Golan Heights to an American company called Genie Energy – the company’s advisory board includes former vice president Dick Cheney, Lord Jacob Rothschild and media mogul Rupert Murdoch (4, 5). One of the biggest owners of Genie Energy is hedge fund Renaissance Technologies LLC – Robert Mercer, the co-CEO of the hedge fund, was also financial backer of Cambridge Analytica, a voter-data firm that worked closely with the presidential campaign of President Trump (6, 7).

The Economist reported in 2015, that Genie Energy and its Israeli subsidiary Genie Oil & Gas believed to have found an oil reservoir “with the potential of billions of barrels” (8). In 2017, Genie Energy created a new subsidiary, Atid Drilling Ltd., to take care of various drilling projects in Israel. Atid has worked together with another Genie Energy subsidiary, Afek Oil and Gas, in order to drill oil exploration wells in the Golan Heights. (9, 10) Zack Colman reported in E&E News in February 2018 that (former) US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke met Efraim “Effie” Eitam, far-right former Israeli politician and head of Afek Oil and Gas, in September 2017. Colman wrote that Afek Oil and Gas “has drilling operations in the Golan Heights, a disputed territory that the international community has explicitly said does not belong to Israel.” Colman continued that the meeting raised “concerns about the appearance that the Trump administration is sanctioning unlawful energy exploration.” Colman also mentioned that Ira Greenstein, ex-chairman of Genie Energy’s former parent company, IDT Corp., is a family friend of Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. Greenstein also worked in the White House. (11)

F. William Engdahl wrote in 2017:

“…unless there is some very careful rethinking on the part of Washington and of Israel, we might find ourselves in another war for oil in of all places the Golan Heights…” (9)

References:

1) “Anti-Muslim hate crimes soar in UK after Christchurch shootings” The Guardian 22.3.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/22/anti-muslim-hate-crimes-soar-in-uk-after-christchurch-shootings

2) “Trump formally recognises Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights” Al Jazeera 25.3.2019

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/trump-formally-recognises-israeli-sovereignty-golan-heights-190325153937336.html

3) “Trump’s support for Israeli Golan Heights draws global anger” Al Jazeera 26.3.2018

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/trump-support-israeli-golan-heights-draws-global-anger-190325185150944.htmlh

4) “Israel Grants First Golan Heights Oil Drilling License To Dick Cheney-Linked Company” Business Insider 22.2.2013

https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-grants-golan-heights-oil-license-2013-2

5) Company overview of Genie Energy Ltd. Bloomberg 26.3.2019

https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/board.asp?privcapId=113359359

6) Top 10 owners of Genie Energy Ltd CNN Business

https://money.cnn.com/quote/shareholders/shareholders.html?symb=GNE&subView=institutional

7) “Robert Mercer, Bannon Patron, Is Leaving Helm of $50 Billion Hedge Fund” The New York Times 2.11.2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/business/robert-mercer-renaissance.html

8) “Black gold under the Golan – Just one catch” The Economist 7.11.2015

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2015/11/07/black-gold-under-the-golan

9) “Golan Heights, Israel, Oil and Trump” New Eastern Outlook 30.3.2017

https://journal-neo.org/2017/03/30/golan-heights-israel-oil-and-trump/

10) “Drilling firm to pursue water, gas, oil projects” The Jerusalem Post 10.1.2017

https://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Drilling-firm-to-pursue-water-gas-oil-projects-477953

11) “Zinke met Israeli energy boss who called Arabs a ‘cancer'” E&E News 9.2.2018

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060073391

The growing threat of right-wing extremism

According to some media reports, Australian white supremacists have attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing several Muslims. This is another terrible reminder that right-wing extremism and terrorism is becoming a truly serious threat to us all.

Before we get more information about the horrible attack and the attackers, here is an old post of mine regarding the growing problem of right-wing extremism and terrorism in USA – I published this post in my old blog in August 2017:

STATISTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN USA

The threat of Islamic extremism and terrorism was one of the most important themes during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. After becoming the president, he has banned foreign nationals from six predominantly Muslim countries from entering USA. Several wealthier Muslim-majority countries, where the Trump Organization has business interests, are not on the list. President Trump claimed that the temporary ban is needed in order to avoid terrorist attacks. Some critics have argued that the ban is just a backdoor way to bar Muslims from entering USA (1).

What seems to have been overlooked is right-wing extremist terrorism. The Investigative Fund and Reveal have compiled a database of nine years of domestic terrorism incidents in USA (2). The database gives very interesting statistical information about the domestic terrorism in USA.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM INCIDENTS IN USA

January 2008 – End of December 2016


Type of domestic
terrorism

Number of
incidents
Foiled plots*
(% of total)
Number of
fatalities

Islamic extremist

63
76 %
90

Right-wing extremist

115
35 %
79

Left-wing extremist**

19
–
7

* foiled plots = no attack took place    ** including ecoterrorism and animal rights (Source of the data: The Investigative Fund)

During January 2008 – end of December 2016 there were 63 Islamist terrorism cases. Vast majority (76 %) of these cases were foiled plots, i.e. no attack actually took place. 48 % of these cases were sting operations. 13 % of Islamist terrorism cases caused fatalities. However, the total number of fatalities was greater.

According to the database, there were nearly twice as many (115) right-wing extremist terrorism incidents. Only 35 % of these cases were foiled plots and only 12 % were sting operations. The right-wing extremist terrorism was often more deadly – nearly 1/3 of these incidents caused fatalities.

Left-wing extremist terrorist incidents were comparatively rare. Only 10.5 % of these cases were sting operations.

Before President Trump signed the ban regarding the six predominantly Muslim countries, he claimed that vast majority of individuals convicted of terrorism and terrorism-related offences since 9/11 came from outside USA. According to the database, only 13 % of perpetrators or alleged perpetrators were foreign born and only 1 % of them came from the countries that are on Trump’s list. The Department of Homeland Security analysis came to the same conclusion – it stated that citizens of nations named in the ban are “rarely implicated in U.S.-based terrorism.” (2)

References:

1) Samuel Osborne: “Muslim-majority countries where Donald Trump does business not included in travel ban” The Independent  27.6.2017

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-travel-ban-muslim-majority-countries-business-organisation-syria-iran-yemen-islamic-a7810711.html

2) David Neiwert: “Home is where the hate is. Trump’s fixation on demonizing Islam hides true homegrown US terror threat” Reveal  21.6.2017

https://www.revealnews.org/article/home-is-where-the-hate-is/

“Time for some structured anarchy” – British hard-line Brexiteers preparing to fight for Brexit

With less than three weeks to the official Brexit day, Prime Minister May is expected to face another defeat on Tuesday, when the parliament will vote on her Brexit deal proposal. The hard-line Brexiteers are getting ready to fight for Brexit. The hard-liners also seem to want to polish their image.

Boris Johnson wrote on The Telegraph on the 24th of February:

“…I am getting sick of the constant suggestion that anyone who sticks up for Brexit must have far Right tendencies. I can’t understand why people are suddenly claiming that anyone who wants to get out of the EU – and follow the instructions of the British people – is a zealot, or an extremist, or Ukip, or Blukip, or some kind of ultra-conservative bigot. Where is this stuff coming from?” (1)

Johnson himself has become infamous for his racist and Islamophobic remarks. Last year he caused an uproar by comparing veiled Muslim women to “letter boxes” and “bank robbers.” Bizarrely, Johnson was not considered to have breached the Conservative Party’s code of conduct. (2)

Last Tuesday, chairman of the European Research Group ERG Jacob Rees-Mogg once again accused May’s government and the Remainers of trying to block Brexit. He wrote in The Sun:

“…the extreme Remainers do not just want an extension — they want ­reversal (i.e. of Brexit referendum) and see this as a first step.

It is worth remembering that those who love the European Union prefer it to democracy and always have done.”

“…the Government must prove that it is committed to the referendum result, for that is the authoritative ­constitutional voice.

No responsible government ought to allow the constitution to be subverted because of its own weaknesses. The ­conventions are there for good ­reasons and, if ignored, confidence in the system that has served well for ­centuries will be damaged — with ­consequences that could include the rise of extremist parties. Failure to deliver Brexit would be a gift to Tommy Robinson.” (3)

Leave Means Leave campaigner Nigel Farage tweeted yesterday that “it’s time for some structured anarchy.” He also advertised March To Leave campaign and “historic rally of Brexiteers” on Parliament Square, London, on the 29th of March. (4)

References:

1) “Brexiteers are not far-Right zealots. Just ask the younger Tony Blair” The Telegraph 24.2.2019

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/24/brexiteers-not-far-right-zealots-just-ask-younger-tony-blair/

2) “Conservatives rule Boris Johnson comparing Muslim women in veils to letter boxes and bank robbers was ‘respectful'” The Independent 21.12.2018

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-cleared-burka-niqab-bank-robber-letterboxes-conservative-party-a8693761.html

3) “We the people have spoken on Brexit… let us now have have lift-off ” The Sun 5.3.2019

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8570432/jacob-ress-mogg-people-have-spoken-on-brexit/

4) Nigel Farage on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/nigel_farage

British Conservative Party suspends 14 members because of alleged Islamophobia

The Tories have suspended 14 members after abusive Islamophobic comments were uncovered on social media. Many of the comments were found on a Facebook group supporting hard-line Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg. The Muslim Council of Britain and former Conservative Party chairman Sayeeda Warsi repeated their calls for an inquiry into the anti-Muslim abuse and Islamophobia within the Tory Party. Mrs Warsi said that the party had “a deep-rooted problem of anti-Muslim comments, Islamophobic comments, racist comments” and that the party chairman and the prime minister had not taken the problem seriously enough.

Read the full story on The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/05/tories-suspend-14-members-over-alleged-islamophobia

Far-right party’s online poll got surprising results in Czech Republic

Czech Republic has been considering relocation of Syrian orphans. Czech far-right party “Freedom and Direct Democracy” SPD opposed the proposal and decided to organize an online poll in order to get support for their stance. However, 73% of the people who joined the survey supported helping the orphans. SPD quickly erased the poll from their website.

References:

“Czech far-right supporters expose their party, back Syrian orphans” EurActiv 22.2.2019

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/the-capitals-czech-far-right-supporters-expose-their-party-back-syrian-orphans/

More bad news for Britain

As Brexit is getting closer, political disintegration seems to continue in Britain. Jeremy Hosking, a multimillionaire financier, has registered a new party Brexit Express in order to support “hard Brexit” – the move increases the risk that the Conservative Party may split (1). Today seven MPs resigned from the Labour Party. According to them, the British politics is “broken” and the Labour Party has been taken over by “hard left.” They also criticized the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, as well as “antisemitism” and “racism” in the party. (2) One of the defectors, Luciana Berger, accused Labour Party of “institutional antisemitism” (3). Another defector, Angela Smith, caused a racism row by saying that members of ethnic minorities are of a “funny tinge” (4).

The British organization Hope not Hate published their annual “State of Hate Report.” According to the report, “Britain is increasingly divided and that is likely to increase” whatever happens with Brexit. There is also a growing risk of far right terrorism and increasing support for far right. The report also states that “anti-Muslim prejudice has replaced immigration as the key driver of far right growth”, but also attitudes towards immigration “are deteriorating.” The report also pays attention to the antisemitism problem in the Labour Party. On the other hand, Islamophobia seems to have become a significant problem in the Conservative Party. According to the report, “49% of 2017 Conservative voters think that Islam is incompatible to the British way of life and 47% think there are no go areas in Britain where sharia law dominates and non-Muslims cannot enter.” (5)

References:

1) “No-dealers dig in for a fresh battle amid fears of Tory split” The Guardian 17.2.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/17/no-deal-brexiters-tory-split-conservative-multimillionaire-donor-new-party

2) “In their own words: why seven MPs are quitting Labour” The Guardian 18.2.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/in-their-own-words-why-seven-mps-are-quitting-labour-independent-group

3) “MP says UK Labour is ‘institutionally anti-Semitic’ as 7 lawmakers quit party” The Times of Israel 18.2.2019

https://www.timesofisrael.com/mp-says-uks-labour-institutionally-anti-semitic-as-7-lawmakers-quit-party/

4) “Britain’s newest political group isn’t even a day old. It’s already been accused of racism” The Washington Post 18.2.2019

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/02/18/britains-newest-political-group-isnt-even-day-old-its-already-accused-racism/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.4b46f4e89b8d

5) “State of Hate Report 2019” – Hope not Hate 17.2.2019

https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/research/state-of-hate-report-2019/

Israel’s cooperation with European right-wing populists and far right

The Guardian reported today that antisemitism has been rising sharply in Europe. According to French historian Marc Knobel, during the past two decades the amount of antisemitic attacks has risen whenever there have been tensions in the Middle East. He said that “rather than attacking Israelis, people went for Jews.” Frédéric Potier of the French government’s anti-racism and antisemitism body Dilcrah said that more traditional forms of antisemitism are also starting to re-emerge and it is due to “the resurgence of a virulent, far-right identity politics.” (1)

However, Israel has also been building cooperation with European right-wing populists and far right for years. Nick Cohen reported in the British newspaper The Jewish Chronicle in 2011 that Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, talked 20 minutes with Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right party the National Front (now the National Rally). Later on Prosor claimed that he hadn’t realized who he talked to. According to Cohen, no one in France or Israel believed the official explanation. Cohen continued:

“…it is safe to assume that elements within the Israeli right are toying with the idea of doing business with elements within the European far right. They reason that, because fascistic or ultra-nationalist movements have turned their hatred from Jews to Muslims, they are now partners they can embrace.” (2)

Danny Shek, Israel’s former ambassador to France, said in 2012:

“What worries me as a Jew and as an Israeli is that more and more Jews find her (i.e. Marine Le Pen) appealing. There is a growing popularity for the primitive formula, ‘my enemy’s enemy is my friend’.” (3)

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has had close relationship with Hungary’s right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban in spite of Orban’s aggressive political campaign against Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros and in spite of the fact that Orban has also praised Miklos Horthy who was ruler of Hungary and Nazi collaborator during World War II. When Orban visited Israel last summer, Netanyahu called him “true friend of Israel.” (4, 5)

Even though Israel does not officially accept right-wing extremists as guests, Netanyahu’s Likud Party has received several European far-right visitors. For example, Italy’s post-fascist leader Gianfranco Fini visited Israel at the beginning of 2000s. Matteo Salvini, current Italian Interior Minister and federal secretary of the far-right party Northern League, visited Israel in 2016. (4) Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party FPÖ and current Vice-Chancellor of Austria, has visited Israel several times during recent years (6, 7).

Human rights groups have protested against sale of Israeli weapons to Ukrainian neo-Nazi militia Azov Battalion. Israel has also expressed strong support for Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany AfD. (4) Rafi Eitan, former Israeli minister and Mossad spymaster, sent a video message to AfD:

“We all in Israel appreciate your attitude towards Judaism… I’m sure that if you work wisely, strongly and, most important, realistically … that instead of ‘Alternative for Germany,’ you might become an alternative for all of Europe.”

According to Israeli media reports, Eitan also wrote in German a message on his personal Facebook page:

“…the Muslim world and its culture are very different from those of the West. Anywhere there are Muslims today, in any European country, one can expect violence and terror because of these differences.” (8)

Ramzy Baroud and Romana Rubeo believed in their article last year that Israel has been operating with European right-wing populists and far-right leaders in order to find ways to pressure Europe and the European Union, because European countries have criticized Israel’s actions against Palestinians and, more recently, Israel’s decision to accept the Nation State Law. Baroud and Rubeo wrote:

“The Israeli government seems intent on weakening Europe by investing in existing divisions and offering political validation to groups that, until recently, were on the political fringes.

It hopes that a divided Europe will be more easily controlled and coaxed back into Israel’s loyalty camp.

It remains to be seen whether Israel’s embrace of far-right, neo-Nazi and fascist Europe will pay off, the way its government hopes for, or whether it would backfire…” (4)

References:

1) “Antisemitism rising sharply across Europe, latest figures show” The Guardian 15.2.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/feb/15/antisemitism-rising-sharply-across-europe-latest-figures-show

2) “Ambassador, how you spoil us” The Jewish Chronicle 23.11.2011

https://www.thejc.com/comment/columnists/ambassador-how-you-spoil-us-1.29461

3) “Marine Le Pen: Don’t French Jews get it?” The Jewish Chronicle 26.4.2012

https://www.thejc.com/news/world/marine-le-pen-don-t-french-jews-get-it-1.33041

4) “An unlikely union: Israel and the European far right” Al Jazeera 17.7.2018

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/union-israel-european-180716085952930.html

5) “Netanyahu greets Hungary’s Orban as ‘true friend of Israel’” AP News 19.7.2018

https://www.apnews.com/938bb193c0894691bf42a6457d1fae4c

6) “Far-right Austrian leader visits Israel’s Holocaust memorial” Reuters 12.4.2016

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-austria-strache/far-right-austrian-leader-visits-israels-holocaust-memorial-idUSKCN0X91NX

7) “Austrian far-right leader sympathetic to Israel on Jerusalem recognition” The Times of Israel 11.12.2017

https://www.timesofisrael.com/austrian-far-right-leader-backs-moving-embassy-to-jerusalem-in-sentiment/

8) “Ex-Israeli spymaster, who helped capture Adolf Eichmann, releases video in support of German far-right party” The Washington Post 3.2.2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/03/ex-israeli-spymaster-who-helped-capture-adolf-eichmann-releases-video-in-support-of-german-far-right-party/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.457cdf9d87d2

President Trump’s eventful campaign rally in Texas

President Trump had, even in his own opinion, an eventful campaign rally in El Paso, Texas, on Monday the 11th. President Trump once again criticized media as well as the Democratic Party, or “radical left.” The lively audience was cheering and booing, and there seemed to be several skirmishes. (1) In one incident Trump supporter attacked BBC cameraman (2). Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, and members of his far-right armed militia were seen in the front row. Rhodes has expressed willingness to train and form an armed militia to do whatever President Trump wants. (3)

References:

1) President Trump’s campaign rally in El Paso, Texas 11.2.2019, link to Fox News video on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/do2YCAGPr4E

2) “Trump supporter attacks BBC cameraman at El Paso rally” BBC News 12.2.2019

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47208909

3) “The founder of this extremist armed militia had a front-row seat to Trump’s rally” Media Matters 12.2.2019

https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2019/02/12/founder-extremist-armed-militia-had-front-row-seat-trump-s-rally/222849

The influence of Adolf Hitler and “Mein Kampf” in India

It is hard to imagine how Adolf Hitler could be seen in any way as a positive role model. However, Hitler and his book “Mein Kampf” have found fans in surprising places, for example in India. Hitler was featured as an inspirational leader in a children’s book, last year, and “Mein Kampf” has been a bestseller in India for years (1, 2). According to some sources, Indian business students have used the book “as a self-improvement and management strategy guide.” Sohin Lakhani, owner of Mumbai-based Embassy books, said in 2009:

“They see it as a kind of success story where one man can have a vision, work out a plan on how to implement it and then successfully complete it.” (2)

Josh Scheinert wrote in 2014 that Hitler’s legacy in India is very different compared to the legacy in the West:

“More removed from the traumas associated with World War II and the Holocaust, Indians approach Hitler from a distance not possible in societies where war veterans, Holocaust survivors and education about the war and its legacy are part of the national psyche.” (3)

The events regarding World War II are not taught extensively in Indian schools, so the Indians are not necessarily aware of the negative stigma Hitler has in the West. There has also been some willingness to overlook Hitler’s most terrible acts and see him only as a strong leader. (3)

According to the Indian people Scheinert interviewed, Hitler’s book hadn’t caused anti-semitism. However, one member of the Jewish community in Calcutta said that there might be a risk that the Hindu nationalist movement might abuse the book’s message. (3) Some academics have believed that the book has been popular because of political reasons and it has been source of inspiration for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party BJP. (2) Hitler seems to have become part of the political debate in India during recent years. Last August Naramalli Sivaprasad, an Indian MP from southern state of Andhra Pradesh, caused shock by being dressed as Hitler in protest against the federal government’s refusal to grant “special category” to Andhra Pradesh (4). Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader of the Congress Party, caused controversy last November by comparing Prime Minister Narenda Modi to Hitler. The BJP responded to the criticism by claiming that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used the language of the former German Chancellor. (5)

References:

1) “Indian Children’s Book Lists Hitler as Leader ‘Who Will Inspire You’” The New York Times 17.3.2018

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/world/asia/india-hitler-childrens-book.html

2) “Indian business students snap up copies of Mein Kampf ” The Telegraph 20.4.2009

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/5182107/Indian-business-students-snap-up-copies-of-Mein-Kampf.html

3) “Why is Adolf Hitler popular in India?” The Jerusalem Post 29.9.2014

https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Why-is-Adolf-Hitler-popular-in-India-376622

4) “India MP shocks with Hitler costume protest in parliament” BBC News 10.8.2018

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45140801

5) “Indira Gandhi used Hitler’s language: BJP” The Economic Times 5.11.2018

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indira-gandhi-used-hitlers-language-bjp/articleshow/66512686.cms