Israel
Israeli bus drivers’ strike over COVID-19 safety concerns
By Jean Shaoul, 30 July 2020
More than a thousand bus drivers have been infected with the disease and hundreds are in quarantine, as the number of cases among Israel’s 9 million population has soared.
What led Argentina’s Left Workers Front (FIT) to vote for banning criticism of Israel under the guise of combatting anti-Semitism?
By Andrea Lobo, 29 July 2020
The FIT legislators voted for a bill introduced by the right-wing Macristas to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism aimed at criminalizing opposition to Israel.
Israeli police deploy tear gas and water cannon against anti-Netanyahu demonstrators
By Jean Shaoul, 20 July 2020
Around 2,000 people protested outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem in one of a series of demonstrations demanding his resignation.
Thousands protest Israeli government’s lack of COVID-19 economic aid
By Jean Shaoul, 13 July 2020
Unemployment has risen to 21 percent and more layoffs are expected in the wake of new restrictions imposed since a dramatic rise in infections.
Netanyahu acquires dictatorial powers citing Israel’s upsurge in COVID-19 cases
By Jean Shaoul, 11 July 2020
The prime minister gave himself and the cabinet emergency powers to impose pandemic restrictions for up to a week before lawmakers can discuss, amend or cancel them.
Back-to-work policy accelerates spread of COVID-19 in Israel
By Jean Shaoul, 4 July 2020
The number of new coronavirus cases has doubled every 12 days over the last month and now averages more than 500 a day.
Netanyahu prepares Israel’s annexation of large slice of West Bank
By Jean Shaoul, 29 June 2020
Netanyahu’s plans are a declaration of war against the Palestinians and a broader war in the Middle East, where Israel acts as Washington’s proxy force.
Israel’s new government plans war on Palestinians and working class
By Jean Shaoul, 26 May 2020
The new National Emergency Government, headed by an indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his deputy Benny Gantz, has taken office amid a political crisis unprecedented in the country’s 72-year history.
Israel: Gantz agrees to national emergency government with Netanyahu
By Jean Shaoul, 22 April 2020
The new government’s real purpose is to protect the wealth of Israel’s corporate and financial elite and to suppress social unrest in Israel and Palestine.
Israel: Gantz paves way for national unity government with Netanyahu
By Jean Shaoul, 28 March 2020
The move signifies an agreement among Israel’s politicians to impose a dictatorial regime on both the Israeli and Palestinian working class.
Israel’s Knesset speaker resigns in order to defend Netanyahu
By Jean Shaoul, 26 March 2020
This thoroughly undemocratic manoeuvre comes in the wake of Monday’s High Court ruling that speaker Yuli Edelstein must allow a vote on his replacement.
Palestinians face humanitarian catastrophe from coronavirus
By Jean Shaoul, 24 March 2020
This foreseeable and foreseen disaster comes after Israel’s 13-year-long siege that has rendered Gaza almost uninhabitable.
Netanyahu exploits coronavirus pandemic to build up dictatorial regime in Israel
By Jean Shaoul, 21 March 2020
Netanyahu has exploited the coronavirus to cast himself as the only figure capable of responding to a national emergency.
Israeli government uses emergency powers to authorize cellphone tracking of coronavirus patients
By Kevin Reed, 18 March 2020
Netanyahu’s holdover cabinet voted unanimously to authorize the Israeli intelligence service to use cellphone location data to track the movements of coronavirus patients and anyone who comes into contact with them.
Coronavirus hits Israel, threatens catastrophe for West Bank and Gaza
By Jean Shaoul, 14 March 2020
Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exploiting the coronavirus outbreak to shore up his political position.
No to right-wing “anti-Semitism” lawsuit against New York University!
the IYSSE at New York University, 12 March 2020
The state-led campaign against BDS and the lawsuit at NYU are an assault on democratic rights having nothing to do with the fight against anti-Semitism.
Ontario parliament to ban criticism of Israel under guise of combating anti-Semitism
By Roger Jordan, 7 March 2020
Bill 168 targets left-wing groups and individuals by branding criticism of the actions of the Israeli government, with which Canada has close ties, as anti-Semitic.
Victory for Netanyahu leaves him short of a majority
By Jean Shaoul, 4 March 2020
Netanyahu is focusing all his efforts on persuading the leader of Blue and White, or some of its party members, to dump their pledge not to serve under an indicted prime minister.
Israel’s deepening poverty, social inequality ignored in election campaign
By Jean Shaoul, 29 February 2020
According to Israel’s National Insurance Institute, some 26 percent of households were in poverty or near poverty in 2018.
Third election in a year deepens Israel’s political crisis
By Jean Shaoul, 26 February 2020
Netanyahu has carried out one political manoeuvre after another aimed at avoiding prosecution and maintaining his bloc’s domination of the Knesset.
Control of offshore gas and oil provokes conflicts in eastern Mediterranean
By Jean Shaoul, 24 February 2020
A new “scramble for Africa” is being tied into a new “scramble” for the eastern Mediterranean, as Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon and the European powers compete over gas exploration, production licenses and pipelines.
Labour Party leadership candidates profess Zionism at Jewish Labour Movement hustings
By Robert Stevens, 18 February 2020
After Corbyn’s four years in office, the Blairites are on the verge of winning back the leadership amid the threat of mass expulsions of Corbyn supporters.
YIVO Institute for Jewish research in New York fires all its librarians
By Clara Weiss, 17 February 2020
Many of the YIVO library’s 400,000 books, newspapers and documents have been rescued from Nazi barbarism, and are indispensable for the study of European Jewish history before the Second World War, the Holocaust and the pre-war revolutionary movement of the Eastern European working class.
Trump unveils farcical Mideast “peace plan” as Netanyahu is indicted
By Bill Van Auken, 29 January 2020
Timed to meet the immediate needs of both Trump and Netanyahu, the plan sanctions all of the policies of the Israeli right and is guaranteed to be rejected by the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seeks immunity from prosecution
By Jean Shaoul, 4 January 2020
Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases that have been investigated for years.
International Criminal Court to investigate Israeli war crimes
By Jean Shaoul, 4 January 2020
Human rights groups have told the UN Human Rights Council, which is investigating Israel’s use of lethal fire against protestors, that no evidence exists of a single protester killed in Gaza border protests being armed.
3 January 2020
Trudeau reaffirms Canada’s support for Israeli aggression
By Roger Jordan, 30 December 2019
Canada’s prime minister denounced a protest against a meeting meant to whitewash the crimes of the Israeli Defence Forces as “anti-Semitic.”
Israel’s political impasse ahead of third election in a year
By Jean Shaoul, 23 December 2019
Netanyahu and his right-wing and ultra-orthodox partners need to secure 61 seats in the Knesset to form a right-wing government that could give him immunity from prosecution.
Netanyahu, indicted on corruption charges, refuses to resign
By Jean Shaoul, 23 November 2019
The prime minister’s aim has been to incite his far-right supporters and encourage them to take to the streets on his behalf.
020 Netanyahu indictment
22 November 2019
Israeli airstrikes on Syria threaten wider Mideast war
By Bill Van Auken, 21 November 2019
The air raids follow by barely a week a bombing campaign against Gaza that killed 34, including an entire family of eight.
US declares Israeli settlements no longer illegal
By Jean Shaoul, 19 November 2019
The US ruling is a green light for an escalation in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and the annexation of Palestinian land.
Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza
By Bill Van Auken, 14 November 2019
The escalation against Gaza serves the political needs of Netanyahu, who is desperately seeking a “unity government” to avoid being driven from power and facing criminal prosecution.
Former Israeli soldiers tour US to speak out against occupation of Palestinian territories
By Fred Mazelis, 13 November 2019
The soldiers’ own experiences have led them to rebel against the criminal policies of the Israeli government.
Ultra-right Lieberman holds balance of power in Israeli coalition talks
By Jean Shaoul, 11 November 2019
The head of Yisrael Beiteinu is demanding a new governmentexcluding the conservative religious parties.
Israel’s President Rivlin calls on Netanyahu to form a new government
By Jean Shaoul, 26 September 2019
The crisis in Israel parallels the broader disintegration of the traditional political set-ups that is taking place in all the main centres of world imperialism.
Inconclusive second elections intensify Israel’s political crisis
By Jean Shaoul, 19 September 2019
Tuesday’s election results have dealt a potentially fatal blow to the political career of Israel’s likely soon-to-be-indicted prime minister and close Trump ally, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Former US intelligence officials say Israel spied on the White House
By Kevin Reed, 13 September 2019
A report in Politico says that the Israeli government is “most likely” behind cell phone surveillance devices found by the Department of Homeland Security in the vicinity of the White House in 2017.
Netanyahu pledges to annex Jordan Valley if re-elected
By Jean Shaoul, 12 September 2019
Israel has illegally occupied and built settlements in the West Bank, as well as in Syria’s Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, since capturing them in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Israel: Netanyahu courts far right in election bid to avoid jail
By Jean Shaoul, 4 September 2019
This month’s election was triggered by Netanyahu’s inability to assemble a governing coalition, despite Likud winning 35 seats in the April 9 election.
Israel launches airstrikes against Iraq, Syria and Lebanon
By Bill Van Auken, 27 August 2019
The wave of attacks across the region is linked to both the US offensive against Iran and Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
Trump denounces Jews for “disloyalty” if they do not vote for him
By Patrick Martin, 22 August 2019
First voiced Tuesday, and repeated Wednesday, Trump’s remark is a thinly veiled appeal to his fascist and white supremacist supporters.
Tlaib agrees to Israeli terms, then reverses herself on West Bank visit
By Barry Grey, 17 August 2019
The events of the past two days have provided a fresh demonstration of the cowardice of the Democratic Party and the absence within it of any principled opposition to Donald Trump’s authoritarian agenda.
A dictatorial move: Trump blocks travel to Israel by two congresswomen
By Patrick Martin, 16 August 2019
The intervention by the president to block travel by representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar is another blow against the US constitutional framework.
New York judge orders Fordham University to recognize Students for Justice in Palestine club
By Fred Mazelis, 10 August 2019
The decision is a small but significant blow against the campaign to equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.
Israeli nurses launch nationwide strike
By Jean Shaoul, 25 July 2019
The attack on nurses—usually the very last group of workers to be singled out for wage cuts—came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s interim government passed an austerity budget slashing an additional $900 million.
Mass protests against police shooting of Ethiopian Israeli
By Jean Shaoul, 8 July 2019
The authorities arrested the off-duty police officer before releasing him into “protective custody” under house arrest, further inflaming tensions over the killing.
Israel to set pre-election austerity budget
By Jean Shaoul, 19 June 2019
The budget comes two months after an election in which all political parties hid from voters their economic and social programmes.
French Nutella workers strike, Tram and metro workers’ stoppage in Greek capital
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
7 June 2019
Workers at the Nutella factory in Normandy have been blockading the plant over demands for a wage increase while Greek tram workers stopped work Monday to protest the Syriza government’s attacks on public transportation.
Fresh Israeli elections after Netanyahu fails to form a government
By Jean Shaoul, 31 May 2019
The calling of new elections expresses the crisis of bourgeois rule provoked by the twin pressures of the decades-long military suppression of the Palestinian people and deepening social inequality within Israel itself.
Netanyahu—unable to form a government—threatens new Israeli elections
By Jean Shaoul, 28 May 2019
Netanyahu’s Likud party has introduced legislation to dissolve the Knesset and call a second election at the end of August.
Israeli writer Amos Oz (1939-2018): A critical appreciation
By Clare Hurley and Clara Weiss, 24 May 2019
Oz published 40 books of fiction, collections of essays, speeches and letters that have been translated into 45 languages, including Esperanto.
Faculty at Chicago’s DePaul University condemn professor’s anti-democratic, militarist comments on Middle East
By Kristina Betinis, 13 May 2019
The faculty resolution condemned the views of Professor Jason Hill, who called for Palestinians to be stripped of voting rights and for Israel to exercise “unprecedented and excessive military might.”
Netanyahu agrees a ceasefire with Hamas—for now
By Jean Shaoul, 10 May 2019
The Israel Defense Forces launched more than 150 aerial strikes and shelled at least 200 sites in the tiny Palestinian enclave.
Israel pounds Gaza, stoking fears of invasion
By Jean Shaoul, 6 May 2019
Less than a month after his far-right bloc's victory in last month’s elections, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu authorised an aerial assault on Gaza, targeting at least 150 sites over the weekend.
Netanyahu prepares to form far-right government in Israel
By Jean Shaoul, 19 April 2019
Netanyahu’s victory marks a watershed, posing a serious threat to the working class in Israel-Palestine and throughout the region.
Palestinian leader of campaign to boycott Israel denied entry to US
By Fred Mazelis, 15 April 2019
The action taken against Omar Barghouti is another illustration of the close policy coordination between the ultra-right regimes of Trump and Netanyahu.
As Israeli Labor vote collapses
Netanyahu prepares to form fourth consecutive government
By Jean Shaoul, 11 April 2019
Netanyahu will head a coalition of ultra-orthodox religious and right-wing parties, as well as an openly fascistic organization.
No clear winner in Israeli elections
By Barry Grey, 10 April 2019
Exit polls had conflicting projections, with most giving opposition candidate Benny Gantz a narrow victory over incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel holds most right-wing elections in its history
By Jean Shaoul, 9 April 2019
The rival campaigns are inextricably linked to the Greater Israel project of Zionist expansion upon which the wealth of Israel’s elite depends.
Netanyahu pledges to annex West Bank if re-elected
By Jean Shaoul, 8 April 2019
Netanyahu, backed by Trump, has effectively repudiated the entire post-World War II international order, signalling new wars of conquest and territorial aggrandisement.
Netanyahu embraces Brazil’s Bolsonaro during Israel visit
By Jean Shaoul, 6 April 2019
Under Netanyahu, Israel has become a pole of attraction for right-wing ideologues, ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists the world over.
Israeli military kills four Palestinians in Gaza protest
By Jean Shaoul, 1 April 2019
Those killed included three 17-year-old boys, bringing the total of children killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the Great March of Return began to 52.
Trump recognizes Israeli annexation of Golan Heights: Green light for global war
By Bill Van Auken, 26 March 2019
Trump’s recognition of Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights sets the stage for far greater crimes by both Israel and its US imperialist patron.
Trump recognises Israeli sovereignty over Syria’s Golan Heights
By Jean Shaoul, 25 March 2019
Along with his decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, Trump has effectively repudiated the entire post-World War II international order in relation to Israel and Palestine.
Israel mounts savage air bombardment on Gaza
By Jean Shaoul, 16 March 2019
Hamas denied any responsibility for the two ineffectual rockets launched against Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust
By Jean Shaoul, 1 March 2019
The indictment announcement comes amidst mounting tensions within the Israeli political establishment exacerbated by Netanyahu’s increasingly pronounced far-right orientation, including the cultivation of neo-fascist forces.
69th Berlin International Film Festival—Part 3
Israeli films, Mr. Jones and Marighella
By Stefan Steinberg, 28 February 2019
This is the third in a series of articles on the recent Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale, held February 7-17, 2019. The first part was posted on February 15 and the second on February 22.
Massive campaign to defend Israeli religious students accused of killing Palestinian mother of nine
By Jean Shaoul, 14 January 2019
The murder and its aftermath highlight the utter lawlessness and racism inherent in the Greater Israel project from which the settler movement stems.
Election campaign confirms further shift to the right by Israeli political establishment
By Jean Shaoul, 9 January 2019
The campaign is dominated by the right-wing and militaristic agenda shared by all Israeli parties, allies and opponents of Likud alike.
Israel’s Netanyahu calls early election amid corruption charges
By Jean Shaoul, 27 December 2018
While Netanyahu will have to fight the election under a cloud, he sees this as preferable to doing so as an indicted crook.
Israeli premier demands German government stop funding Jewish Museum Berlin
By Sybille Fuchs, 27 December 2018
Benjamin Netanyahu’s letter accuses the museum of “anti-Israel activities” for seeking to engage in dialogue with Muslims and others.
Brutal crackdown on West Bank as Netanyahu pledges stepped-up land grab
By Jean Shaoul, 20 December 2018
The Palestinians have faced not just the Israel Defense Forces but also Israeli settlers who have been attacking cars and civilians.
Israel rolls out the welcome mat for Europe’s neo-fascists
By Bill Van Auken, 14 December 2018
Netanyahu’s hailing of Italy’s far-right Interior Minister Salvini as a “great friend of Israel” demonstrates the affinity between the Zionist state and neo-fascism.
Israel: Netanyahu’s coalition government collapses, forcing early elections
By Jean Shaoul, 17 November 2018
Lieberman has pushed Netanyahu into an election campaign that will be fought over the Gaza debacle and the prime minister’s “weakness.”
030 Israeli defense minister resigns
15 November 2018
Israeli terror raid provokes new clashes in Gaza
By Bill Van Auken, 14 November 2018
Israeli strikes on Gaza, in blatant violation of international law, have demolished civilian structures and forced hundreds of families from their homes.
Israeli government defends Trump in aftermath of Pittsburgh massacre
By Jean Shaoul, 5 November 2018
The spontaneous outpourings of solidarity across Jewish and Muslim communities for the victims of the Pittsburgh atrocity are anathema to the Netanyahu government.
Historian seeks release of Israel’s secret papers on Kfar Qasem massacre
By Jean Shaoul, 20 October 2018
Historian Adam Raz believes what has long been rumoured—that behind the horrific massacre in which 51 people were killed was a secret plan developed at the highest level of the Israeli state to transfer Israel’s Palestinians to Jordan.
Australian government backs far-right “OK to be white” motion in Senate
By Mike Head, 19 October 2018
The government’s embrace of the slogan, long championed by alt-right and neo-Nazi groups, has a far-reaching significance.
US student critical of Israel detained at Tel Aviv airport for more than a week
By Jean Shaoul, 12 October 2018
Lara Alqasem, 22, was targeted because she is president of the University of Florida’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, which supports the BDS campaign against Israel.
Israeli mass murder of Gazans targets children
By Jean Shaoul, 8 October 2018
The ongoing slaughter of men, women and children by the Israel Defense Forces has been treated as a non-event by the major imperialist powers and the corporate media.
Demolition of Bedouin village highlights Netanyahu’s “Greater Israel” plan
By Jean Shaoul, 4 October 2018
The authorities have already demolished 26 homes in the community, making 132 people homeless, 77 of them children and teenagers, over the last 12 years.
World Bank warns Gaza faces economic collapse
By Jean Shaoul, 1 October 2018
The organization warned that half of Gaza residents live in poverty and youth unemployment is over 70 percent.
Moscow blames downing of Russian plane near Syria on Israeli “provocation”
By Bill Van Auken, 19 September 2018
The killing of 15 Russian military personnel off the coast of Latakia has ratcheted up dangerous military tensions in Syria.
Israel bombs target near Damascus as Syrian war threatens to escalate
By Jordan Shilton, 17 September 2018
Washington supports Israel's aggression in Syria as part of its strategy to drive back Iranian influence in the country and throughout the Middle East.
Twenty-five years after Oslo, a deepening catastrophe for the Palestinians
By Bill Van Auken, 14 September 2018
The anniversary has coincided with a series of increasingly punishing measures by Washington to back the Netanyahu regime in Israel and starve the Palestinians into submission.
Israel’s Netanyahu extends hand of friendship to fascistic Philippines President Duterte
By Jean Shaoul, 10 September 2018
The main purpose of Duterte’s trip was to explore future arms deals, including advanced weaponry and, potentially, aircraft.
Ha’aretz joins witch-hunt against UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
By Jean Shaoul, 4 September 2018
Ha’aretz aims to silence and criminalise any signs of growing left-wing sentiment expressed in the support for Corbyn’s minimalist reforms.
Sharp rise in right-wing attacks on Palestinians and Israeli peace and rights activists
By Jean Shaoul, 1 September 2018
The nationality law, enshrining Israel’s status as the nation-state of the Jewish people, not the state of all its citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity, is fanning the flames of racial hatred.
Israel steps up harassment of prominent critics of anti-Palestinian and racialist agenda
By Jean Shaoul, 20 August 2018
Israel’s government is criminalising those protesting its policies on the basis that they represent “the de-legitimisation of Israel,” a “threat to state security” or are “anti-Semitic.”
More deaths and maiming of Palestinians amid latest “ceasefire”
By Jean Shaoul, 11 August 2018
The latest round of fighting could torpedo a four-year truce between Israel and Hamas.
Based on bogus charges of anti-Semitism
Details emerge of plot to oust Corbyn or split UK Labour Party
By Chris Marsden, 11 August 2018
In their plot to remove Corbyn, Labour’s right wing are reasserting the nakedly neo-liberal and militarist agenda pursued by Labour under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Israel carries out new strikes on Gaza
By James Cogan, 10 August 2018
The latest assault, which killed three people, follows repeated threats by the Israeli government to launch another full-scale military intervention.
PayPal closes pro-Palestinian group’s account in collusion with Israeli government
By Jean Shaoul, 9 August 2018
PayPal’s action is part of a broader censorship drive by US technology and social media giants, working closely with US and Israeli intelligence agencies.
Mass protest led by Druze against Israel’s Nation State law
By Jean Shaoul, 8 August 2018
The demonstration was reported to be around 150,000 strong, making it the largest-ever Druze rally.
Bogus anti-Semitism campaign against Corbyn and the “left” escalates
By Jean Shaoul and Chris Marsden, 28 July 2018
The attack on Corbyn and his supporters centres on measures that would criminalise criticism of the State of Israel for its persecution of the Palestinians as a form of anti-Semitism
Worker sets himself on fire in Gaza amid strike against mass layoffs
By Bill Van Auken, 27 July 2018
A massive cut in US funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has led to the layoffs, part of an intensifying drive to starve Gazans into submission.
Israel shoots down Syrian jet over occupied Golan Heights
By Bill Van Auken, 25 July 2018
The shoot-down is part of the escalation of both Israeli and US aggression aimed at Syria and Iran.
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