New appeal from A Jerusalem Voice for Justice for equality in Gaza and the West Bank. Where Israeli raids and settler attacks are causing an "ever-deepening despair". To policymakers: "Take responsibility". To Palestinian communities: "We are not relics of the past".
Today's news: More bombings overnight in Israel and Gaza, far-right leader Ben-Gvir welcomed back into Netanyahu's government; No truce in Ukraine in the two and a half hour phone call between Putin and Trump; Rohingya leader arrested in Bangladesh; Hanoi wants to halve the number of provinces and reduce the authorities at municipal level by up to 70%.
The Israeli academic and scholar of “intractable conflicts” talked to AsiaNews about the way the Gaza war is going and its consequences for Israeli society. Talking about peace today is considered a threat. Seventeen-year-olds “don't know what the Green Line is”. The families of the hostages are “the most important voice”.
Fr Romanelli bears witness to the tragic escalation of Israel's war in Gaza against Hamas. The clergyman reports that more than 300 people were killed and more than a thousand wounded. His parish church was spared so it continues “to provide our service to everyone,” especially children and senior citizens. Gaza Catholics “pray for peace” with Pope Francis.
In today's news: The Indian authorities have imposed a curfew in Nagpur after an attack by Hindu radicals on the tomb of an ancient Muslim ruler; Jakarta repatriates - and interrogates - over 500 of its citizens returning from Myanmar who were victims of ‘cyberscam’; Beijing has put the publisher Li Yanhe on trial for ‘pro-Taiwan secessionism’; After 14 years, the leader of the Iranian opposition Karroubi has been released from house arrest.
Middle East Eye investigation: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are linked through Kushner's Affinity Partners to UN blacklisted companies. Involved are banks and companies in telecommunications, transportation, energy, engineering and retail. Business in settlements stronger than solidarity with Palestinians.
For the pacifist rabbi, the humanitarian aspect of the issue has given way to a fight over the government. For Netanyahu, it is an excuse to pursue the war and oppose an independent inquiry into the events of 7 October. Hostages’ relatives have been forcibly dragged away from the Knesset and are now the most recognisable face of the opposition in Israel.
A Palestinian research institute conducted a survey the first week after the ceasefire. More than half of those surveyed are convinced that the truce can hold. Only 5 per cent still want Hamas to run the territory.
A Likud bill wants to impose an 80% tax on donations from foreign organisations and limit their right to appeal in court. Speaking to AsiaNews, the Development and External Relations Director of the long-standing pacifist association, which is currently demonstrating with the families of the hostages, confirms his concerns about this law. The risk of distancing Israel from liberal democracies and strengthening authoritarian tendencies.
Despite the huge turnout and the high-level Iranian representation, the funeral of the two leaders of the Party of God was not the show of force that many had hoped for. On two occasions, four Israeli fighter planes flew over Beirut. The Christian, Sunni and Druze political leadership stayed away from the ceremony. Aoun to Tehran: ‘Lebanon is tired of other countries’ wars on its territory’.
Today's news: Israeli army says DNA of the third body does not match mother of twins who died in Hamas captivity; Just 17% of Japanese people have a passport; South Korean police open another case against President Yoon, already under impeachment; Islamabad aims for 60 billion in exports.
The bodies of four hostages have returned to Israel, including the two youngest victims (the Bibas brothers) and that of Oded Lifshitz, a veteran journalist and pacifist. For his son, getting the release of all the hostages is crucial, since the work "is not yet done”. Volunteers have tended the garden of the Lifshitz home so that it remains a symbol of hope and dialogue.
Today's news: flights between Baghdad and Beirut double for Nasrallah's funeral scheduled for 23 February; Afghan Taliban accuse Islamabad of ‘arrests and harassment’ of refugees in Pakistan; Four bodies of Israeli hostages of Hamas are due to be handed over today; Train runs over family of elephants in Sri Lanka, killing six in the island's worst wildlife accident.
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