#Germany / Government trying to stop Palestine Congress, says organiser
The German government is reportedly trying to actively and illegally stop or delay a Palestine Congress in #Berlin from happening, according to an organizer of the event. Nadija Samour, the organizer, stated that there is "pressure from the federal government" to cancel the Congress, and accused Berlin of intentionally delaying the start of the event by citing technical reasons as a pretext.
Samour also claimed that at least one of the main speakers, Ghassan Abu Sittah, was held up by federal police at Berlin airport and prevented from entering Germany, despite having no legal basis or justification for doing so. The organizers have faced intense pressure from pro-Israeli politicians in recent days to ban the event, with hundreds of police surrounding the Congress venue in Berlin's Tempelhof district.
First Worldism—“the loss of the prerogative, only and always, to be the one who transgresses the sovereign boundaries of other states, but never to be in the position of having one’s own boundaries transgressed.”
#Islamophobia / Where Did All The Hate Go? (Mamoun Fandy)
Egyptian-born American scholar Mamoun Fandy describes the rebranding process of #antisemitism after the #Holocaust, when Western antisemitism found new victims for its abundance of hate left unused after centuries-old antisemitism had become socially unacceptable.
Having lived in the West for around 40 years in academia and public life and discussing the portrayal of Arabs in American media, Fandy questions whether the West has truly overcome its hate of the "semite" that led to the Holocaust.
Some Jews, he argues, participated in this transference, finding relief that the "semitic" stigma was moving away from them onto Arab bodies, even while many Jews were in fact part of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
But the West has not actually healed from antisemitism (as the rise of neo-Nazis in #Germany and elsewhere indicate), it has just redirected it towards another Semitic population - the Arabs. This hatred intensifies during Arab-Israeli conflicts, with the West effectively siding with #Israel as if taking a stand against antisemitism by multiplying its animosity towards Arabs.
The West does not call for ceasefire in #Gaza and shows no human compassion, even while Israeli officials call to "burn Gaza down" (and their U.S. friends retort it should be made a "parking lot"). There's seem to be readiness for another Holocaust, this time against Arabs.
Thus, antisemitism, once again, can be openly expressed towards Arabs in the West, without consequences or social stigma, as the river of hatred has just been diverted.
#Islamophobia / Where Did All The Hate Go? (Mamoun Fandy)
Egyptian-born American scholar Mamoun Fandy describes the rebranding process of #antisemitism after the #Holocaust, when Western antisemitism found new victims for its abundance of hate left unused after centuries-old antisemitism had become socially unacceptable.
Having lived in the West for around 40 years in academia and public life and discussing the portrayal of Arabs in American media, Fandy questions whether the West has truly overcome its hate of the "semite" that led to the Holocaust.
Some Jews, he argues, participated in this transference, finding relief that the "semitic" stigma was moving away from them onto Arab bodies, even while many Jews were in fact part of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
But the West has not actually healed from antisemitism (as the rise of neo-Nazis in #Germany and elsewhere indicate), it has just redirected it towards another Semitic population - the Arabs. This hatred intensifies during Arab-Israeli conflicts, with the West effectively siding with #Israel as if taking a stand against antisemitism by multiplying its animosity towards Arabs.
The West does not call for ceasefire in #Gaza and shows no human compassion, even while Israeli officials call to "burn Gaza down" (and their U.S. friends retort it should be made a "parking lot"). There's seem to be readiness for another Holocaust, this time against Arabs.
Thus, antisemitism, once again, can be openly expressed towards Arabs in the West, without consequences or social stigma, as the river of hatred has just been diverted.
#Islamophobia / Where Did All The Hate Go? (Mamoun Fandy)
Egyptian-born American scholar Mamoun Fandy describes the rebranding process of #antisemitism after the #Holocaust, when Western antisemitism found new victims for its abundance of hate left unused after centuries-old antisemitism had become socially unacceptable.
Having lived in the West for around 40 years in academia and public life and discussing the portrayal of Arabs in American media, Fandy questions whether the West has truly overcome its hate of the "semite" that led to the Holocaust.
Some Jews, he argues, participated in this transference, finding relief that the "semitic" stigma was moving away from them onto Arab bodies, even while many Jews were in fact part of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
But the West has not actually healed from antisemitism (as the rise of neo-Nazis in #Germany and elsewhere indicate), it has just redirected it towards another Semitic population - the Arabs. This hatred intensifies during Arab-Israeli conflicts, with the West effectively siding with #Israel as if taking a stand against antisemitism by multiplying its animosity towards Arabs.
The West does not call for ceasefire in Gaza and shows no human compassion, even while Israeli officials call to "burn Gaza down" (and their U.S. friends retort it should be into a "parking lot"). There's seem to be readiness for another Holocaust, this time against Arabs.
Thus, antisemitism, once again, can be openly expressed towards Arabs in the West, without consequences or social stigma, as the river of hatred has just been diverted.
#Islamophobia / Where Did All The Hate Go? (Mamoun Fandy)
Egyptian-born American scholar Mamoun Fandy describes the rebranding process of anti-Semitism after the #Holocaust, when Western #antisemitism found new victims for its abundance of hate left unused after centuries-old antisemitism had become socially unacceptable.
Having lived in the West for around 40 years in academia and public life and discussing the portrayal of Arabs in American media, Fandy questions whether the West has truly overcome its hate of the "semite" that led to the Holocaust.
Some Jews, he argues, participated in this transference, finding relief that the "semitic" stigma was moving away from them onto Arab bodies, even while many Jews were in fact part of the civil rights movement in the U.S.
But the West has not actually healed from antisemitism (as the rise of neo-Nazis in #Germany and elsewhere indicate), it has just redirected it towards another Semitic population - the Arabs. This hatred intensifies during Arab-Israeli conflicts, with the West effectively siding with #Israel as if taking a stand against antisemitism by multiplying its animosity towards Arabs.
The West does not call for ceasefire in Gaza and shows no human compassion, even while Israeli officials call to "burn Gaza down" (and their U.S. friends retort it should be into a "parking lot"). There's seem to be readiness for another Holocaust, this time against Arabs.
Thus, antisemitism, once again, can be openly expressed towards Arabs in the West, without consequences or social stigma, as the river of hatred has just been diverted.
#UK / Benny Morris Prevented from speaking at LSE Law School
[…] Morris’ rhetoric is particularly dangerous at a time of rising anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, Islamophobic, racist and xenophobic violence. The danger of such speech is part of the reason the ICJ is investigating the words of military and political leaders, but also media and public figures, as inciting genocide.
“UK anti-Islamophobia body has not met for four years despite hate crime rise. Members of working group raise concerns over Michael Gove not restarting body that last met in 2020.” Of course it hasn’t met. Islamophobia is the key to electoral success (of fascists). #tories#Islamophobia
It's not news that the prevalent strains of bigotry and #Islamophobia that permeate segments of the global right-wing have proven advantageous for #Israel's interests, despite the undercurrent of antisemitic sentiment that often accompanies such ideologies. This paradox is exemplified by the continuing belief among most nationalist Israelis that Trump's policies were beneficial for the Jewish state, despite his cultivation of support from factions that espouse overtly antisemitic views.
A case in point is Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for Governor of North Carolina, who secured his party's nomination with the backing of Trump's #MAGA base and evangelical Christian supporters, many of whom profess their support for Israel. However, Robinson himself has made controversial statements that seem antithetical to such support, including denying the #Holocaust, opposing abortion rights, and opposing #LGBTQ rights.
#NYT / Probe Over Unaired Podcast Episode Questioning Hamas Reporting
The New York Times is conducting an internal leak investigation to find out how details were leaked about an unaired episode of The Daily podcast. The episode was about a controversial Times investigation claiming #Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon in its October 2024 attack on Israel.
After objections were raised internally about the strength of the original reporting, a new script was drafted with major caveats.
The probe comes amid wider disputes over coverage of the Israel-Hamas war by the newspaper.
#UK / Sun cleared by IPSO over report of claim Hamas ‘beheaded babies’ on 7 October
Press regulator #IPSO ruled on a complaint against The Sun newspaper for reporting claims that Hamas "beheaded babies" during the 7 October 2022 massacre in Israel.
The Sun's front page stated "savages 'beheaded babies'" and said #Hamas "reportedly" beheaded babies during an attack that killed 40 youngsters.
A complaint accused The Sun of publishing an unsubstantiated and false claim.
The Sun because it presented the beheading claim as unconfirmed by using quotes and "reportedly", rather than stating it as fact. Other UK papers like the Daily Mail and Daily Express also published the beheading claims without quotation marks on the same day.
Now listening to: Mental Health Check: Unpacking Affect and Resisting Psychic Intrusion with Lara Sheehi
"Lara Sheehi is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology. [She's] founding faculty director of the Psychoanalysis and the Arab World Lab. Lara's work takes up decolonial and anti-oppressive approaches to psychoanalysis, with a focus on liberation struggles in the Global South. She is co-author with Stephen Sheehi of Psychoanalysis Under Occupation: Practicing Resistance in Palestine (Routledge, 2022) which won the Middle East Monitor's 2022 Palestine Book Award for Best Academic Book. Lara is the author of the forthcoming book, From the Clinic to the Street: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures (Pluto Press, 2025)."
I've seen some people suggest that it's out of touch or naive for Americans to call for a #ceasefire and shows we aren't listening to people in the Middle East. But these calls for ceasefire resolutions are coming directly from the real, thriving Palestinian community of #Texas, even in the face of violence.
I wonder if people said the same thing about the calls to boycott apartheid South Africa? I definitely see it with modern #BDS, even though that movement stems directly from a Palestinian call-to-action.
#UK / Landmark success at employment tribunal for academic sacked over Israel comments
[…] A university academic who was sacked after making comments criticising Israel has successfully claimed at an employment tribunal that he experienced discrimination based on his anti-Zionist belief in a landmark ruling.
[…] Prof Miller drew controversy during a lecture at the university in 2019, when he said the Zionist movement was one of five pillars driving #Islamophobia in the UK, the tribunal heard.
[…] Professor David Miller was also found to have been unfairly and wrongfully dismissed by the University of Bristol in October 2021.
[…] A university academic who was sacked after making comments criticising Israel has successfully claimed at an employment tribunal that he experienced discrimination based on his anti-Zionist belief in a landmark ruling.
#Israel / White supremacist Sweden Democrats meet Israeli Minister in Knesset
[….] On January 29, a delegation of senior members of the far-right Sweden Democrats paid a visit to Israel. Surprisingly, the delegation met a minister in the Israeli parliament, Knesset.
“It is clear that our respective parties, and even nations, have many common core values. Many of our problems are also similar, so there is much to be gained from an exchange of experience and deepened cooperation both at the national and party level.”
#Germany / German youth group calls for Jews and migrants to be put in ghettos, women and children shot
Judging by readers comments on populist center-right #Ynet news website, it’s a rude awakening for Israelis flirting with the idea of #neonazis as partners against #Islam…
Undercover investigation by German broadcaster RTL into the “Youth Alternative” (Junge Alternative, JA), the youth wing of the far-right Alternative for Germany (#AfD) party. Reporters attended a JA event in Saxony and documented participants making extremist and dehumanizing statements, such as proposing to place migrants and #Jews in ghettos and use violence against them if necessary.
The AfD officially distanced itself from such views, blaming them on undercover constitutional protection agents. However, an extremism researcher interviewed stated the JA represents the radical fringe of the AfD and should be banned from coming to power, even if the ideas themselves cannot be outlawed.
The article also notes recent polling shows the AfD's support declining from 22% to 18%, which may be linked to the large protests against right-wing extremism and the party. The article suggests this downward trend, if continued, could make some voters reconsider supporting the AfD.
#USA / Before Invoking Antisemitism, We Need To Define It
Derek J. Penslar, a William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History and the director of the #Harvard Center for Jewish Studies, is the co-chair of Harvard’s new task force on #antisemitism. Another task force was established to combat #islamophobia.
In an opinion essay from December last year Penslar wrote:
“Conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism magnifies divisions within our Harvard community and stymies a common struggle against hatred.”
Penslar presented the three competing definitions of antisemitism from different Jewish groups - #IHRA, Jerusalem Declaration, and Nexus Document, which agree on core aspects but differ on Israel criticism.
While IHRA sees some criticism of Israel as antisemitic, Jerusalem Declaration and Nexus Document allow more criticism of Israel policies/actions without deeming it antisemitic.
Penslar supports the Jerusalem Declaration and Nexus Document as more conducive to discussions happening at Harvard. Both documents say criticizing Israel policies is not inherently antisemitic, but have examples of criticism that is antisemitic.
CM Siddaramaiah said that dressing and food habits were personal concerns and added, "You wear whichever dress you want to. You eat whatever you want. It is your right to consume food of your choice."
The German state's self-image as a defender of human rights is fundamentally at odds with its unconditional support for #Israel, which is seen as a source of moral redemption.
Holocaust survivor Gabor Mate speaks in defense of Palestine--and of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world who defend Palestinians.
"that in order to make this Jewish dream a reality we had to visit a nightmare on the local population...there was no land without a people, there were people living there for hundreds of years...some Palestinians may be descendants of ancient Jews."
#Islamophobia is on the rise as the #PressIsComplicit in furthering Netanhahu's #Israel genocidal designs on #Palestine with their coverage slanted always to paint all innocents in #Gaza as less than humans or as active and willing accomplices to Hamas.
The intersection with #GunViolence in the U.S. is immediately evident.
@tchambers I am surprised by now #islamophobia#black hatred should have been a big market too .. if not as big as twitter.
world is full of these characters
Here below are graphs of discrimination ratios over time by racialized group. The shaded area is 95% confidence region. You may notice that #discrimination has been stable since the #1970s except for a rise against MENA-passing persons since 1990.
Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah: "Countering violent extremism, governmentality and Australian Muslim youth as ‘becoming terrorist’"
Abstract
This article explores how a ‘regime of truth’ about Muslim youth has been historically produced through the underlying logic of Australia’s counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE) policies and practices. The article is divided into three parts. I first look at how the pre-emptive logic of countering the ‘becoming terrorist’ constitutes young Australian Muslims. I then interrogate the way CVE has constituted Australian Muslims as a self-contained space, a governmental population divided between ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’. Lastly, I discuss how CVE operates as a technique of governmentality in the way that it deploys grants programs to foster the ‘conduct of conduct’ of Muslim subjects within this self-contained racialised space. I argue that the central organising logic of community partnership has been the targeting of the conditions of emergence of ‘extremist’ Muslim subjects, thereby guaranteeing the racialisation of Muslim youth as always at-risk, marked with the ‘potential’ of ‘becoming terrorist’.