Israel on a collision course

The events in Israel have taken an extraordinary turn after Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government rose to power at the end of last year. Hundreds of thousands Israelis have protested during 11 Saturdays against Netanyahu’s government’s political decisions and plan to complete judicial overhaul. The government’s plan “will allow the Knesset to override court decisions with the barest majority, preemptively shield laws from judicial oversight altogether, and put the selection of all judges in the hands of coalition politicians”. According to opponents, the plan will “drastically weaken Israel’s democratic character, remove a key element of its checks and balances and leave minorities unprotected”. Violence against the protesters seems to escalate. (1) Some opponents have also said that Netanyahu’s far-right government is planning a “coup” and Israel is in danger of becoming a “dictatorship” or “fascist theocracy” (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). President of Israel Isaac Herzog warned last week that civil war in Israel is “within touching distance” (7).

More moderate and liberal members of Jewish diaspora have been worried about Netanyahu’s government. Large amount of liberal American Jewish leaders and Jewish organizations have opposed the judicial overhaul and other actions of the government. British Labour MP Margaret Hodge wrote, “Netanyahu has brought Israel to a dangerous moment. We, the Jewish diaspora, cannot just stand by.” (8, 9, 10) Over 100 former Israeli diplomats have expressed their concern that Netanyahu’s government will harm foreign ties (11). The USA and UAE have put their planned meetings with Netanyahu on hold (12). President Biden told Netanyahu yesterday that he backs compromise regarding the judicial overhaul. Netanyahu has claimed to Biden and some European leaders that Israel will remain a democracy. (13, 14, 15) At the same time a rift has emerged between Netanyahu’s government and some Western states. According to recent media reports, a senior Israeli government official claimed without any evidence that the mass protests against the government’s judicial overhaul have been partially funded by the Biden administration (16). Netanyahu has also asked all cabinet ministers to avoid traveling to USA and to avoid meeting US government officials, until Biden invites him to the USA (17). Israel has also signaled that European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is not welcome to Israel after he has criticized Israel’s actions (18). Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has claimed that the EU is interfering in Israeli domestic affairs, for example after the EU parliament organized a debate titled “Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories.” (19)

References:

1) “As violence against protesters escalates, opposition blames Netanyahu’s ‘incitement’” The Times of Israel 18.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-violence-against-protesters-escalates-opposition-blames-netanyahus-incitement/

2) “Israel: Netanyahu moves a step closer with ‘judicial coup’ bill in parliament” Middle East Eye 14.3.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-netanyahu-moves-step-closer-judicial-coup-bill-parliament

3) “Hundreds of elite IDF reservists stop showing up for duty over judicial overhaul” The Times of Israel 19.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-of-elite-idf-reservists-stop-showing-up-for-duty-over-judicial-overhaul/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=coalition-to-push-ahead-with-judicial-overhaul-bills-to-assist-netanyahu-and-deri

4) “Here comes the new regime in Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu’s ‘democratic dictatorship’” The Times of Israel 12.1.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/here-comes-the-new-regime-in-israel-benjamin-netanyahus-democratic-dictatorship/

5) “Israel’s former spy chief warns that country could turn into a ‘dictatorship'” Middle East Eye 17.3.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-judicial-reform-spy-chief-shin-bet-dictatorship

6) “Tel Aviv mayor warns Israel heading toward a fascist theocracy” The Times of Israel 2.12.2022

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-mayor-warns-israel-heading-toward-a-fascist-theocracy/

7) “Israeli president warns of civil war as Netanyahu rejects judicial compromise” The Guardian 16.3.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/15/israeli-president-civil-war-is-within-touching-distance

8) “169 liberal US Jewish leaders sign letter expressing concern over Israeli government” The Times of Israel 1.2.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/169-liberal-us-jewish-leaders-sign-letter-expressing-concern-over-israeli-government/

9) “In highly unusual move, major US Jewish group decries proposed judicial overhaul” The Times of Israel 21.2.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-break-from-policy-major-us-jewish-group-decries-proposed-judicial-overhaul/?utm_source=article_hpsidebar&utm_medium=desktop_site&utm_campaign=yesh-atid-mulling-plan-for-all-opposition-mks-to-resign-to-protest-judicial-overhaul

10) “Netanyahu has brought Israel to a dangerous moment. We, the Jewish diaspora, cannot just stand by” The Guardian 3.3.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/03/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-jewish-diaspora-palestinians

11) “Over 100 ex-Israel diplomats fear Netanyahu gov’t will harm foreign ties” Middle East Monitor 30.12.2022

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221230-over-100-ex-israel-diplomats-fear-netanyahu-govt-will-harm-foreign-ties/

12) “Invites for Netanyahu to visit US, UAE on hold as discomfort with government grows” The Times of Israel 16.2.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/invites-for-netanyahu-to-visit-us-uae-on-hold-as-discomfort-with-government-grows/

13) “Israel: Biden tells Netanyahu he backs compromise on judicial overhaul” Middle East Eye 19.3.2023

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-biden-netanyahu-compromise-judicial-overhaul

14) “Macron warns Netanyahu over judicial overhaul, settlements” The Times of Israel 3.2.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/macron-warns-netanyahu-over-planned-overhaul-of-israeli-judicial-system/

15) “On Berlin visit, Netanyahu denies he’s working to curtail independence of judiciary” The Times of Israel 16.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-berlin-netanyahu-tells-scholz-israel-is-and-will-remain-a-liberal-democracy/

16) “Source close to Netanyahu accuses US of funding rallies against judicial overhaul” The Times of Israel 12.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/source-close-to-netanyahu-accuses-us-of-funding-rallies-against-judicial-overhaul/

17) “Netanyahu said to bar ministers from meeting US officials until Biden invites him” The Times of Israel 15.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-to-bar-ministers-from-meeting-us-officials-until-biden-invites-him/

18) “Israel signals EU foreign policy chief unwelcome in Israel” The Times of Israel 16.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-signals-eu-foreign-policy-chief-unwelcome-in-israel/

19) “EU foreign policy head defends parliamentary debate on Israel as tough love” The Times of Israel 15.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-foreign-policy-head-defends-parliamentary-debate-on-israel-as-tough-love/

“Hostile” and “authoritarian” United Kingdom

United Kingdom has been downgraded in an annual global index of civic freedoms because of the government’s “increasingly authoritarian” drive to impose restrictive and punitive laws on public protests. According to Civicus Monitor, British government has created a “hostile environment” towards campaigners, charities and other civil society bodies. Stephanie Draper, chief executive of the Bond charity, said, “The UK is becoming increasingly authoritarian and is among concerning company in the Civicus Monitor ratings as restrictive laws and dangerous rhetoric are creating a hostile environment towards civil society in the UK.”

Read the full story on The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/16/hostile-authoritarian-uk-downgraded-in-civic-freedoms-index

International Day to Combat Islamophobia

Today is International Day to Combat Islamophobia. As we have seen in the news, Islamophobia is a major problem around the world. Some of the more recent examples of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias have been the “pogrom” carried out by Israeli settlers in the Palestinian town of Huwara last month and the suggestion by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that Huwara should be “wiped out” (1, 2). Sweden caused uproar in January when it gave far-right activist Rasmus Paludan permission to burn Quran. However, Sweden didn’t give permission to burn Torah, the holy book of Judaism. (3, 4) Controversial French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo seems to use every opportunity to insult Muslims – example of this was a cartoon mocking victims of the disastrous earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria (5).

Big Tech has had important role in spreading Islamophobia and anti-Muslim content. Last year Amnesty International published a report where it claimed that Facebook’s algorithms “proactively amplified” anti-Rohingya content and that Facebook’s parent company Meta “substantially contributed” to human rights violations perpetrated against Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar (6). Report published by Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) in Australia stated last year that nearly 86% of anti-Muslim posts on Twitter come from the USA, United Kingdom and India. The report noted that Twitter is “drastically failing at removing anti-Muslim content”. (7)

More information about the International Day to Combat Islamophobia:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/anti-islamophobia-day

References:

1) “Settler extremists are sowing terror, Huwara riot was a ‘pogrom,’ top general says” The Times of Israel 28.2.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/settler-extremists-sowing-terror-huwara-riot-was-a-pogrom-top-general-says/

2) “Far-right Israeli minister Smotrich claims his ‘wipe out Hawara’ comment was not a military order” The New Arab 9.3.2023

https://www.newarab.com/news/smotrich-backtracks-again-his-wipe-out-hawara-comment

3) “‘Over 1.5 billion Muslims hurt’: Reaction to Quran desecration in Sweden” TRT World 21.1.2023

https://www.trtworld.com/europe/over-1-5-billion-muslims-hurt-reaction-to-quran-desecration-in-sweden-64746

4) “Man prevented from desecrating Torah outside Israeli embassy in Sweden despite Quran burning incidents” The New Arab 28.1.2023

https://www.newarab.com/news/torah-burning-sweden-stopped-despite-quran-desecration

5) “The banality of evil: Charlie Hebdo mocks Türkiye quake victims” TRT World 7.2.2023

https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/the-banality-of-evil-charlie-hebdo-mocks-türkiye-quake-victims-65266

6) “Meta’s Facebook Algorithms ‘Proactively’ Promoted Violence Against the Rohingya, New Amnesty International Report Asserts” Time 28.9.2022

https://time.com/6217730/myanmar-meta-rohingya-facebook/

7) “Majority of anti-Muslim Twitter posts come from US, UK and India” Middle East Eye 19.9.2022

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/majority-anti-muslim-twitter-posts-come-us-uk-india

Significant deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia

China has helped Iran and Saudi Arabia resume diplomatic ties after seven years. Andrew Parasiliti wrote about the significance of this deal on Al-Monitor (1):

“It’s hard to overstate the impact of resumed diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia — and that it was China that made it happen.

China has until now had a business- and energy-first approach to the Middle East, preferring to abstain from the diplomatic and security charge held, mostly unchallenged, by the United States.

Not anymore.

A Saudi-Iran rapprochement is one for the diplomatic A team. It’s a major step to de-escalate the most critical fault line between the Gulf’s largest and most powerful countries.”

Marwan Bishara wrote about the deal on Al Jazeera (2):

“…I believe it is in everybody’s best interest if the protagonists try a hands-off approach to regional affairs, especially as their regional overreach allowed foreign powers to exploit and aggravate their conflict.

Indeed, Riyadh and Tehran must now take a common, firm stand on foreign interference, especially Western support for Israel’s colonialism and apartheid – predictably the only country to openly oppose the new Gulf détente, which it is, no doubt, determined to sabotage.

They must also reject all attempts by global powers to intervene directly or through proxies in the Middle East. That includes China.

Beijing, which mediated between Riyadh and Tehran and hosted the final celebratory handshake, has emerged as the biggest winner of the new deal. It will gain greater credibility and prestige as a responsible global player, having helped resolve a complicated conflict in a tough region considered part of the US area of influence.”

Here are some other positive reactions to this deal (3):

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric:

“Good neighbourly relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia are essential for the stability of the Gulf region.

The Secretary-General reiterates his readiness to use his good offices to further advance regional dialogue to ensure durable peace and security in the Gulf region.”

Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister of Oman:

“This is a win-win for everyone and will benefit regional and global security. We hope, in the longer term, there’s also potential for increasing economic benefits for all.”

Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to United Arab Emirates President:

“We welcome the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations, and we hail the Chinese role in this regard.

The UAE believes in the importance of positive communication and dialogue among the countries of the region towards consolidating the concepts of good neighbourliness and starting from a common ground to build a more stable future for all.”

In the USA, the reactions have been mixed (3, 4, 5):

White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby:

“Generally speaking, we welcome any efforts to help end the war in Yemen and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region. De-escalation and diplomacy together with deterrence are key pillars of the policy President Biden outlined during his visit to the region last year.

The Saudis did keep us informed about these talks that they were having, just as we keep them informed on our engagements, but we weren’t directly involved.”

Former national security adviser John Bolton:

“We’re sitting still, and the Chinese, the Russians, Iran, North Korea, and several others, are moving to shore up their relations and threaten us in a lot of different places.”

“It’s an indication that the Saudis and others are trying to hedge their bets with China and Russia, because they don’t think the United States has the resolve and the fortitude necessary to do what they need to do to protect the world against Iran and its intentions.“

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Political Scientist at Rice University’s Baker Institute in the United States:

“Further regional instability is not in Saudi or Iranian interest at the moment.”

“And for the Chinese to have addressed this at a time when the US stance toward Iran is becoming more hawkish sends a powerful signal in itself.”

Ahmed Aboudouh, a nonresident fellow with the Middle East Programs at the Atlantic Council:

“For Saudi Arabia and Iran, China’s ostensible commitment to the ‘non-interference’ principle and its ‘non-alignment’ regional policy attached great credibility to its position as a broker. To be clear, both countries seem united in their grievances towards the Biden administration, albeit at different levels. Nonetheless, despite Iraq’s hosting the talks for the most part, China’s desire to take the lead has met Riyadh and Tehran’s willingness to hand it a diplomatic win – a stark indication of China’s growing influence over the two biggest powers in the Gulf.

It remains to be seen whether the Chinese mediation will hold in the future and, indeed, cover other regional conflicts. Nevertheless, China has just left the United States with a bleeding nose in the Gulf.”

In Israel, the blame game started quickly. A senior official who was part of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s entourage during his visit to Italy blamed the weakness of previous Israeli government and Biden administration for the situation. He said, “There was a feeling of American and Israeli weakness, so Saudi Arabia turned to other channels.” The official falsely claimed that the talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran began during previous Israeli government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, even though the talks actually started already during Netanyahu’s previous government. Bennett and Lapid blamed Netanyahu for the deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They argued that it was “the result of diplomatic neglect, general weakness and internal conflict in the country since the current government was established on December 29”. (6)

References:

1) “China leaps into Saudi-Iran diplomacy as nuclear talks move” Al-Monitor 10.3.2023

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/china-leaps-saudi-iran-diplomacy-nuclear-talks-move

2) “The Saudi-Iran détente and its regional implications” Al Jazeera 12.3.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/3/12/the-saudi-iran-detente-and-its-regional

3) “Reaction to Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming ties – Quotes” Middle East Monitor 10.3.2023

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230310-reaction-to-iran-and-saudi-arabia-resuming-ties-quotes/

4) “Bolton warns US against ‘sitting still’ as China and Russia grow closer” The Hill 12.3.2023

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3895810-bolton-warns-us-against-sitting-still-as-china-and-russia-grow-closer/

5) “Experts react: Iran and Saudi Arabia just agreed to restore relations, with help from China. Here’s what that means for the Middle East and the world” Atlantic Council 10.3.2023

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react/experts-react-iran-and-saudi-arabia-just-agreed-to-restore-relations-with-help-from-china-heres-what-that-means-for-the-middle-east-and-the-world/?mkt_tok=NjU5LVdaWC0wNzUAAAGKa76tmpn6g7mcQ4U3Fbq6DzuwB19gwPTALG-1bnEnafrjecLJfdR3M-fR-pxCg0uCgH2EAPq8GJOP206NEl05KaF4QqpaZd6rLPA_aNEBUdo#Panikoff

6) “Top official blames weakness of Biden, Bennett-Lapid government for Saudi-Iran deal” The Times of Israel 10.3.2023

https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-israeli-official-blames-weakness-of-biden-bennett-lapid-for-saudi-iran-deal/

Political humor in Brexit Britain

Brexit, COVID-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis as well as political decisions and antics of the hardline Conservative governments have created a “perfect storm”, and the frustration of British people have been seen in various polls. According to YouGov poll in November last year, only 32% of the public said that it was right to vote to leave the EU and 56% said that it was wrong to leave (1). According to latest YouGov poll regarding voting intention, 47% of voters would vote Labour and only 25% of voters would vote the ruling Conservatives (2). According to research published in November last year, trust in politicians is “in free fall”. 66% of British voters believe that “politicians are only out for themselves” and only 4% of the public believe that politicians are “doing their best for the country”. (3)

The chaotic years have inspired some hilarious and surreal political humor, such as art created by Cold War Steve (4, 5) and Duke Smoochem, a dystopian game created by Dan Douglas (6). Last year a 60 pence lettuce rose to world fame after it lasted longer than Prime Minister Liz Truss who became the shortest-serving PM in British history. (7, 8)

References:

1) “One in five who voted for Brexit now think it was the wrong decision” YouGov 17.11.2022

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/17/one-five-who-voted-brexit-now-think-it-was-wrong-d

2) YouGov UK voting intention 8.3.2023

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/03/08/voting-intention-con-25-labour-47

3) “Revealed: trust in politicians ‘in free fall’ after ‘year of chaos’, poll reveals” IPPR 3.11.2022

https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/revealed-trust-in-politicians-in-free-fall-after-year-of-chaos-poll-reveals

4) “The art of Cold War Steve” The Guardian 15.6.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/jun/15/the-art-of-cold-war-steve

5) “Cold War Steve: satire is my antidote to a scary world” The Guardian 15.6.2019

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/15/cold-war-steve-satire-is-my-antidote-to-a-scary-world-interview

6) “‘Keir Starmer just ordered an alpaca airstrike!’ The game that holds up a dystopian mirror to the UK” The Guardian 8.3.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/mar/08/game-dystopian-mirror-uk-dan-douglas-duke-smoochem

7) “Daily Star lettuce celebrates victory as Prime Minister Liz Truss resigns” Daily Star 20.10.2022

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/breaking-daily-star-lettuce-celebrates-28282527

8) “Lettuce rejoice: inside story of Daily Star iceberg’s triumph over Liz Truss” The Guardian 21.10.2022

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/oct/21/inside-story-daily-star-lettuce-triumph-liz-truss

Far-right entertainment

The rise of various right-wing populist and extremist movements has become the most hair-raising and sometimes the most absurd reality show ever seen. This rollercoaster has had some entertaining twists and turns. The latest example is the charity single “Justice for All”, published by former president Donald J. Trump and the J6 Prison Choir, a choir consisting of men who were imprisoned for taking part to the insurrection in Washington, USA on the 6th of January 2021.

Read the full story and listen to the single on The Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/03/donald-trump-song-charity-single-january-6-prisoners

Warning of Neo-Nazi “Day of Hate” in USA

As a chilling sign of our times, law enforcement in USA has warned about a potential national “Day of Hate” today. Neo-Nazis and white supremacists have reportedly been asking followers to engage in vandalism and to spread antisemitic propaganda in USA.

Read the full story on Yahoo!News:

https://news.yahoo.com/law-enforcement-jewish-groups-warn-213918248.html

World’s reaction to the Russia-Ukraine war

World’s reaction to the war between Russia and Ukraine has revealed some interesting aspects that can be seen as signs of the new emerging world order. Al Jazeera published excellent and very informative article about the way different countries have voted in the UN regarding the war, which countries have sent aid or arms to Ukraine and which countries have imposed sanctions on Russia. (1)

Democracy Index 2022 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit EIU concentrates heavily on the Russia-Ukraine war. According to the report, about two thirds of the world’s population live in countries that are neutral or Russia-leaning regarding the war in Ukraine. The report states, “Russia’s war of aggression has united the US, Europe and its close allies behind Ukraine, but many developing countries do not see things the same way. The countries of the global south see this as the West’s war and not necessarily their concern. Their reluctance to line up behind Western countries reflects, variously, frustration with the established international order and an emphasis on first-world issues; resentment of perceived Western hypocrisy in light of past Western intervention in their affairs; and dependency on Russian minerals and other resources.” (2)

Study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) thinktank surveyed opinions in 15 countries – in nine EU member states and in Britain, USA, Russia, China, India and Türkiye. The study “revealed sharp geographical differences in attitudes to the war, democracy and the global balance of power, suggesting Russia’s aggression may be a historic turning point marking the emergence of a ‘post-western’ world order.” Mark Leonard, the thinktank’s director and a co-author of the report, stated, “The paradox of the Ukraine war is that the west is both more united, and less influential in the world, than ever before.” According to professor Timothy Garton Ash, the survey showed that “the war had given the transatlantic west unity and purpose” but it had “utterly failed to persuade major powers of the rest, such as China, India and Turkey.” (3)

The rest of the world has also seen how the West has, perhaps unwittingly, shown its bias regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and Ukrainian refugees. Last year, when the war started, comments made in Western media and by some prominent persons were quite startling. Here are some examples (4):

NBC News correspondent Kelly Cobiella: “Just to put it bluntly, These are not refugees from Syria, these are refugees from neighbouring Ukraine… These are Christian, they’re white, they’re very similar.”

Daniel Hannan on The Telegraph: “They seem so like us. That is what makes it so shocking. War is no longer something visited upon impoverished and remote populations. It can happen to anyone.”

English presenter Peter Dobbie on Al Jazeera: (Ukrainians fleeing the war are) “prosperous, middle class people” (who) “are not obviously refugees trying to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war. These are not people trying to get away from areas in North Africa, they look like any European family that you would live next door to.”

Ukraine’s former deputy general prosecutor David Sakvarelidze on BBC News: “It’s very emotional for me because I see European people with blonde hair and blue eyes being killed every day with Putin’s missiles and his helicopters and his rockets.”

Bulgaria’s president Rumen Radev: “These are not the refugees we are used to. These people are Europeans… These people are intelligent, they are educated people… This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists… In other words, there is not a single European country now which is afraid of the current wave of refugees.”

References:

1) “Where does your country stand on the Russia-Ukraine war?” Al Jazeera 16.2.2023

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/16/mapping-where-every-country-stands-on-the-russia-ukraine-war

2) Democracy Index 2022 Economist Intelligence Unit EIU February 2023

https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/democracy-index-2022/?utm_source=economist&utm_medium=daily_chart&utm_campaign=democracy-index-2022

3) “War in Ukraine defining new world order, says thinktank” The Guardian 22.2.2023

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/21/war-in-ukraine-defining-new-world-order-says-thinktank

4) “Europe’s contrasting responses to Ukraine refugee crisis prompt criticism” Independent 28.2.2022

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-refugees-response-europe-racist-b2024840.html

Atlas of Impunity

Eurasia Group and Chicago Council of Global Affairs published Atlas of Impunity during the recent Munich Security Conference. The Atlas is “a comprehensive index which tracks the abuse of power across five key societal dimensions – unaccountable governance, abuse of human rights, conflict, economic exploitation. and environmental degradation.” (1) The five countries with lowest impunity score are Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany. USA and Israel are closer to the median compared to the countries with least impunity. USA and Israel rank higher on the impunity than, for example, Hungary or Poland. The report states that also other world’s great regional powers – such as China, Russia, Brazil, India and Iran – “perform relatively poorly compared to economic and geographic peers”. (2)

References:

1) “‘Atlas of Impunity’ documents rise of unaccountable power in new and comprehensive global index” PRWeb 21.2.2023

      https://www.prweb.com/releases/atlas_of_impunity_documents_rise_of_unaccountable_power_in_new_and_comprehensive_global_index/prweb19177229.htm

      2) The Atlas of Impunity Eurasia Group 23.2.2023

      https://www.eurasiagroup.net/live-post/atlas-of-impunity-2023#Report

      Israeli industry of spyware, hacking, disinformation and political meddling

      During recent years investigative journalists and cybersecurity researchers have revealed several Israeli companies that have produced and sold spyware or conducted hacking, disinformation or other kind of political operations. Owners and employees of those Israeli companies have been usually former Israeli intelligence officers. Here are some of those companies and their activities.

      The most recent revelations are regarding “Team Jorge”, a unit lead by former Israeli special forces operative Tal Hanan alias “Jorge”. The team seems to have been operating under the radar in elections in various countries over two decades. Here is more information about “Team Jorge”:

      https://forbiddenstories.org/story-killers/team-jorge-disinformation/

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/15/revealed-disinformation-team-jorge-claim-meddling-elections-tal-hanan

      https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-operatives-manipulating-elections-investigation

      https://www.timesofisrael.com/expose-unmasks-israel-led-disinformation-team-that-meddled-in-dozens-of-elections/

      Israeli company NSO Group and its spyware Pegasus made headlines when it was revealed that the spyware was used not only to spy on journalists and political activists but also political leaders such as French president Emmanuel Macron. According to media reports, even FBI purchased this spyware and considered using it. Here is more information about Pegasus:

      https://forbiddenstories.org/case/the-pegasus-project/

      https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/8/what-you-need-to-know-about-israeli-spyware-pegasus

      https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/07/world-leaders-potential-targets-of-nso-group-pegasus-spyware/

      https://www.pcmag.com/news/fbi-almost-deployed-pegasus-spyware-in-investigations

      Another US agency, Drug Enforcement Administration DEA has been using another Israeli spyware called Graphite, made by Israeli company Paragon. Here is more information about Graphite:

      https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-724399

      https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-led-spyware-industry-further-exposed-becoming-unruly

      https://english.almayadeen.net/news/technology/us-governments-purchase-use-of-israeli-spyware-to-be-investi

      Cybersecurity researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that spyware made by Israeli company Candiru has been used to spy on journalists, political activists and dissidents. Here is more information about Candiru:

      https://citizenlab.ca/2021/07/hooking-candiru-another-mercenary-spyware-vendor-comes-into-focus/

      https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/7/15/citizen-lab-spyware-by-israels-candiru-used-to-target-activists

      https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chrome-zero-day-used-to-infect-journalists-with-candiru-spyware/

      https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-chrome-zero-day-exploit-delivered-spyware-to-journalists

      Former Israeli military intelligence general Tal Dilian and his companies WiSpear/Passitora, Cytrox and Intellexa have caused controversy in Cyprus and Greece because of their questionable activities. In 2019, Dilian was connected to “spy van scandal” in Cyprus. Intellexa’s spyware Predator is connected to scandal dubbed as “Greek Watergate” – Predator has been used to spy on prominent politicians, businesspeople and journalists. Here is more information about Tal Dilian’s activities and Predator:

      https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/11/01/meps-in-cyprus-on-predator-spying-mission/

      https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/08/11/government-response-to-spy-van-affair-is-unsatisfactory/

      https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/local/how-the-spyware-scandal-in-greece-is-related-to-cyprus/

      https://english.almayadeen.net/news/technology/predator-another-israeli-spyware-used-to-hack-greek-official

      https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/greece-in-a-pickle-over-predator-use-seeks-us-judicial-coope