Bienstock '20: Understanding BDS Beyond the Headlines, by Faris Barhoum

Brown University Jewish Voice for Peace, student group emblem. 

                                                         






November 20, 2019




By Faris K. Barhoum




    Brown University student and Brown Jewish Voice for Peace and Brown Students for Justice in Palestine member Ben Bienstock, just wrote an op-ed piece for The Brown Daily Herald, where he outlined why the Palestinian led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement was started and singles out the state of Israel. As stated by Bienstock, "Opponents of the movement have gained media and political prominence. Pundits have gone at length about the movement's supposed extremism, its 'one-sidedness' and especially its alleged antisemitism. Politicians have fumed about the movement, propelling dozens of states to pass legislation that attempts to outlaw BDS. Congress even briefly considered an ill-advised and certainly unconstitutional bill to criminalize supporters of the movement" (Bienstock, 1). As a result the BDS movement has become very controversial in the last couple of years and the State of Israel has gone to great lengths to criminalizing those that support the movement, and Israel has labeled BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti as a "terrorist." As of 2017, Israel has raised over $72 million in an effort to combat the movement at home and abroad.

Brown Students for Justice In Palestine, student group emblem. 

 
    Bienstock believes that the negative discussion on BDS has overshadowed why it was started and what it aims to do in the long run. The main goal of the BDS movement is to hold Israel accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people and supporters of BDS want a state that allows for Palestinians to live side-by-side with Israelis. Bienstock contends: "Yet, amid this clamor, many people pay remarkably little attention to what the BDS movement actually is; in the process, they ignore the voices of the Palestinians who called for the movement and the experiences that led them to do so" (Ibid, 1).
     The BDS movement has broad support from around the globe and Bienstock points out that we should pay attention to this call. Bienstock states, "Globally, BDS has won the support of labor unions, religious organizations, student governments and academic associations. Before the movement, discussions of the 'Israeli-Palestinian conflict' erased Palestinian voices and misrepresented Palestinian resistance as merely one side in some kind of old-age intractable sectarian strife. BDS has begun shifting the focus of these conversations to simple questions of human rights and is generating grassroots pressure to win freedom and, justice and equality" (Ibid, 2).
   The BDS movement has clearly started a real conversation and it is worth listening to because debate and controversy are good, we need to hear differing opinions. It will be interesting to see where this movement goes in the coming years. Till then we just have to stay tuned.


Article,

Bienstock, Ben. The Brown Daily Herald, "Bienstock '20: Understanding BDS Beyond The      Headlines."
      http://www.browndailyherald.com/2019/11/17/bienstock-20-understanding-bds-beyond-
      headlines/. 11/20/19.

Tensions Mont Over Another BDS Panel At UMass, by Faris K. Barhoum

UMass Communications Professor Sut Jhally.

                                                     



November 13, 2019





By Faris K. Barhoum






      This past Tuesday [November 12], the University of Massachusetts held an event titled, "Criminalizing Dissent: The Attack on BDS & American Democracy." The panel event was organized by UMass Professor Sut Jhally. Professor Jhally, who teaches communications organized the event for Tuesday night at UMass. The event was moderated by Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, and the panel featured Harvard Professor Cornel West, journalist and activist Shaun King, anti-racism advocated and author Tim Wise; Palestine Legal director Dima Khalidi; and remotely from Skype, BDS co-founder Omar Barghouti.
  The event highlighted the "accelerating efforts by U.S. political leaders, pro-Israel lobbying groups, and college and university administrators to silence, smear, and criminalize" those who support the BDS movement (Christensen, 1). Those who are against BDS have called the movement "anti-Zionist and anti Semitic." It is vitally important to point out that the movement is not anti-Semitic, the movement is not against Jews or Judaism; but to be anti-Zionist has nothing to do with being an anti-Semite (Ibid, 1). Zionism calls for an ethno-religious state for Jews and Jews only. The BDS movement is vehemently opposed to this because it leaves no room for the Palestinian people, who are the indigenous population of Palestine. The BDS movement would like to see a state that allows for Palestinians to live in a secular state alongside Israeli Jews with full equality and human rights for all.
   Hillel at UMass, held a counter event. The Hillel students organized a "peace walk," in opposition to the panel organized by Professor Jhally. The UMass administration got involved as well. As stated by Dusty Christensen of The Daily Hampshire Gazette: "Ahead of the panel, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy released a statement distancing the university from the event, criticizing it as 'polarizing' and stating that UMass is 'firmly opposed to BDS'" (Ibid, 2). In response to Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement, Jewish Voice for Peace sent an open letter stating that Subbaswamy's rhetoric "contributes to racist and Islamophobic harassment and intimidation that Palestinian students and community members routinely face for speaking out in favor of BDS" (Ibid, 2).

UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy. 

   According to Christensen, Professor Jhally and other faculty at UMass wrote an open letter criticizing Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement as falling "far short of the robust defense of academic freedom...that we expect of our chancellor." The open letter has been signed by over 130 faculty members according to Professor Jhally. In addition, "the university chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine [at UMass], also has written a letter condemning the chancellor's remarks, as have academics and activists outside the university--including dissident and linguist Noam Chomsky and University of California professor and activist Angela Davis" (Ibid, 1). It is quite clear that there is real resistance to hearing a debate that is not supportive of Israel and highlights the plight of the Palestinian people. We should be able to hear a differing viewpoint on the subject of Israel/Palestine.


Article,

Christensen, Dusty. "Tensions Mont Over Another BDS Panel At UMass."
    https://www.gazettenet.com/Supporters-critics-speak-out-ahead-of-BDS-event-at-UMass-Amherst-
    30273539. 11/13/19.

Israel Court Rejects Human Rights Watch Activist's Deportation Appeal, by Faris K. Barhoum

Omar Shakir of Human Rights Watch.

November 6, 2019


By Faris K. Barhoum




   This past Tuesday [November 5] the Israeli Supreme Court upheld a ruling that a Human Rights Watch employee must leave the Jewish State. Omar Shakir, a senior member of Human Rights Watch is to be deported from Israel on the grounds of supporting the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement or BDS. The BDS movement was started by Palestinians in 2005 to hold Israel accountable for their continued occupation of the Palestinian people and to pressure states, entities, and nations from conducting military and economic business with Israel.
   Mr. Shakir will be deported and his work permit will be revoked by the Jewish State because the interior minister of Israel stated: "He [Shakir] had supported a boycott of Israel. Israel formally revoked his work permit in the spring of 2018 for his support of the BDS movement, but for the last year Mr. Shakir challenged the state of Israel at the Supreme Court level (BBC.com, 1). Mr. Shakir is a trained lawyer.
   According to the BBC, "It [Israel], based the decision on a dossier covering his activities over the previous 10 years, almost all of them predating his Human Rights Watch role" (Ibid, 1). Mr. Shakir and Human Rights Watch have explicitly stated that neither support a boycott of Israel. Human Rights Watch for its part never supported the BDS Movement back in its inception in 2005, and they currently do not support the boycott. In the case of Mr. Shakir, he never actively pursued nor supported the boycott while in his role at Human Rights Watch. Mr. Shakir merely did his job as an employee of Human Rights Watch, which was holding Israel accountable for its human rights abuses against the Palestinians.

Article,

BBC.com, "Israel Court Rejects Human Rights Watch Activist's Deportation Appeal,"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50300959. 11/6/19.

Hamas Says Ready For Palestinian Elections, by Faris K. Barhoum

From Left to Right: Yahya Sinwar the Head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the former Head of Hamas in Gaza, Ismail Haniyah.

                                         




October 29, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum



    Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Head of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar have announced that they are ready and prepared for Palestinian elections. The Palestinian people last held a national election in the spring of 2006. Hamas won that election in a landslide which resulted in Europe, America, and Israel boycotting and refusing to deal with the Palestinian faction because the Hamas movement is labeled and considered a terrorist organization by those in the West and by Israel. It would be a positive step for a national election to be held, especially since the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have had a bitter rivalry as a result of the first election in 2006.
   The announcement was made by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah on Monday [October 28], after a meeting with Palestinian Central Election Commissioner Hanna Nasser. Yet, as stated by Ynet.com, "There was no indication whether the meeting overcame the obstacles that have scuttled similar pledges in the past" (Ynet, 1). The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have made several pledges in the past and those pledges have broken down. The reason for this is because both Palestinian factions fought one another in 2007 when Hamas forceable kicked out the Palestinian Authority and the PA permanently resettled in the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas the leader of the Sultah or the Palestinian Authority announced the intention to hold Palestinian elections, while he spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
   It remains to be seen what will come about with the whole discussion surrounding a Palestinian election. It is my hope that a Palestinian national election will be held and that the results will be respected by Israel, the West, and the international community.

Article,

Ynet.com and the Associated Press. "Hamas Says Ready For Palestinian Elections,"
    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5615027,00.html 10/29/19. 

'Change The System:' Lebanese Protesters Tell The Government, by Faris K. Barhoum

Lebanese demonstrating and calling on the government to hold an election.

  October 23, 2019
 



  By Faris K. Barhoum




        For the last six days there have been widespread protests throughout Lebanon. The Lebanese people have been calling for elections and for the current government of Saad Hariri to step down. The regime of Saad Hariri implemented renewed reforms, in particular economic reforms to the already cash strapped nation of 6 million. Thousands of Lebanese have taken to the streets to voice their frustrations. As of Monday [October 21], Prime Minister Hariri addressed the nation and announced sweeping reforms, which was welcomed by many, although some do not think it is enough. Many in Lebanon would prefer that Prime Minister Hariri step aside and call for an election.
   The reforms that were announced by Prime Minister Hariri included "a package of reforms that included a 50-percent reduction in salary for politicians and the establishment of an anti-corruption panel" (Gadzo, 20). The Lebanese people want to see the Lebanese hand over power to a transnational council that is made up of judges who do not have a political affiliation until and when a election is held and a new government is formed. The new reforms Lebanon announced came after economic measures were taken to improve the economy. In July Lebanon passed an austerity plan in the hopes of reviving the economy because many were upset with the rise in taxes. As stated by Mersiha Gadzo of Al-Jazeera.com: "Government plans to impose new taxes on tobacco, petrol and WhatsApp calls sparked the Mediterranean country's biggest protests in years, spread from Beirut to the southern cities of Tripoli and Tyre," and as a result Lebanese of all backgrounds have united and have gone into the streets to protest. The protests have been peaceful for the most part, but tense at times (Ibid, 3).
    Many in Lebanon feel that the new reforms announced by Prime Minister Hariri on Monday are devoid of true change. The Lebanese government is not adequately addressing the concerns of the people in the opinion of many Lebanese, & the Lebanese people want the current government to step down in order to hold new elections. Many want to see a change in the system in Lebanon as it comes to sectarian politics. The Lebanese people believe that the sectarian political system only "creates patronage and clientelism" and many believe there must be an overhaul to the current system (Ibid, 5). Time will tell if the current reforms will lead to positive change, but the Lebanese people's wishes should be respected as it pertains to new elections and a transfer of power on the part of Prime Minister Hariri.

Article,

Gadzo, Mersiha. "'Change The System:' Lebanese Protesters Tell The Government,"
   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/system-lebanese-protesters-government-
  191022171257906.html 10/22/19.



                                                   

Israel To Increase Cuts To Electricity Provided To Palestinians, by Faris K. Barhoum

An Israeli engineer at an electrical substation near the occupied
West Bank city of Jenin.

                                                   


October 16, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum




    Israel is going to step up and increase cuts to electricity in the West Bank due to unpaid debts and theft. Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO) chairman of the board and CEO Hisham Omari announced the move to cut electricity back in September. The cuts to power were announced in September and the first stage of power cuts occurred last month. As stated by Tzvi Joffre of The Jerusalem Post.com: "The Israeli Electric Corporation [IEC] may cut off electricity for as long as two hours a day. The Palestinian Authority owes about NIS 300 billion and about an additional NIS 150 million due to occurrences of electricity theft" (Joffre, 1). 300 billion shekels is $85 billion dollars and 150 million shekels is $42 million dollars.
      Chairman and CEO of JDECO "warned that the cuts could adversely affect institutions, hospital, education, water, telecommunications, drug stores and other vital services and will further deteriorate the electrical situation in a manner similar to the situation in the Gaza Strip" (Ibid, 1). The Israeli Electric Company communicated to JDECO, "that electricity would be cut off on the 22nd of September from 10 a.m. to 12 noon local time in the cities and districts of Ramallah and Bethlehem, and on the 23rd from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m. in parts of Ramallah and Jericho and their area villages" (Ibid, 1). Back in August the Palestinian Authority and Israel reached an agreement "in which the authority would pay 300 million shekels [$85 million] to Israel to cover the debt owed to the IEC" (Ibid, 1). This is an ongoing battle that we will see play out for the foreseeable future.

Article,

Joffre, Tzvi."Israel To Increase Cuts To Electricity Provided
        To Palestinians."
         https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-to-increase-cuts-to-electricity-provided-to-
         Palestinians-604874. 10/16/19.

Palestinian-Saudi Soccer Match "Normalization" With Israel, by Faris K. Barhoum

Palestinian National Football Team, 2019 Roster.

                                       
 October 9, 2019


By Faris K. Barhoum




    The Palestinian National Football [Soccer] Team is slated to compete against the Saudi National Football team in Ramallah on October 15. Yet, many are voicing their displeasure and many in Palestine would prefer that the Palestinian Club not play Saudi Arabia. The match will qualify either club to play in the 2022 Asian World Cup. The match is supposed to take place at the Faisal Husseini Stadium in A-Ram, which is a town outside of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
 

The Palestinian National Association Emblem

     Several Palestinians, in particular Palestinian political activists believe the move allows for "normalization" between Israel and Saudi Arabia. As stated by Khaled Abu Toameh, "Palestinian activists on Wednesday [October, 9] launched a campaign to voice their opposition to a soccer game between the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia" (Abu Toameh, 1). Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal, the chairman of the Saudi General Sport Authority claimed "the decision was in response to the request of the Palestinian Football Association." In general most Arab countries avoid playing in Palestine because most Arab countries do not have a formal peace accord with Israel, beside Jordan and Egypt who signed formal peace accords with the Jewish State. According to Abu Toameh of
The Jerusalem Post: "Some Arab clubs and national teams have traditionally refused to play in the West Bank because it required them to apply for entry permits from Israel" (Ibid, 1).
   Jibril Rajoub, who is the head of the Palestinian Football Association stressed the "historic importance," of the Saudi Club coming to Palestine to play for the qualifier. The campaign that some Palestinians launched in response to the slated qualifier was started online. The campaign was titled "Sports Normalization" and "Normalization is Treason" (Ibid, 1). There is quite a bit of anger and it remains to be seen if the match will be played as originally planned. This story is ongoing.

Article,

Abu Toameh, Khaled. The Jerusalem Post, "Palestinian-Saudi Soccer Match 'Normalization' With Israel - Activists."
    https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Palestinian-Saudi-soccer-match-normalization-with-Israel-
   activists-604085. 10/9/19.

Hassan Nasrallah: "We Are Threatening Them And We Will Enter Occupied Palestine," The Leader of Hezbollah Puts Israel On Notice

Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah.

October 2, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum



   This past Saturday [September 28, 2019], Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, the Shiite Lebanese militia group came out and announced that Hezbollah would enter into Israel and into occupied Palestine, if and when both sides come to war. This is an especially bold statement considering Israel and Hezbollah fought a month long war in 2006, which brought the whole region to a standstill. Since then a lot has happened, the Arab Spring sprouted and faltered, the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011 as a direct result of the Arab Spring, and Saudi Arabia has been engaged in Yemen since 2015 fighting the Houthi rebels, which many believe have direct support from Iran. Similarly, Hezbollah's main allies in the region are Syria and Iran. Hezbollah has sent a couple thousand of its fighters to fight alongside the regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and Iran has sent its elite Revolutionary Guard and military to aid and support the Syrian military against ISIS or Da'ish and various Islamist groups that have been fighting the Syrian regime. Russia too sent its military forces to help Assad regain much of Syria.
   In the thirteen-years since Hezbollah and Israel fought one another, a lot has changed and the geopolitical landscape in the Arab world has changed for better or for worse. To begin with the Arab Spring of 2011 saw much hope and enthusiasm turn to complete despair and heartbreak. Tunisia is the only success story thus far, yet Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen have been reduced to separate degrees of failure, social and political that is. Over the last year, many have been watching Israel and Hezbollah closely. In December of last year, Israel found dozens of underground tunnels leading out of Southern Lebanon into Israel. Since then, Israel has been on high alert and proceeded to blow up the tunnels that they could find, & just a few weeks ago Israel and Hezbollah exchanged missiles leading to fears that a war could break out. The situation is in a holding pattern as we speak and many believe anything could happen.
   Nasrallah was quoted this past Saturday by Lebanese newspaper El Akbar, in which he stated, "We are threatening them [Israel] and we will enter occupied Palestine." Nasrallah continued, "We have abundant information, unprecedented in fact, about all events and developments occurring on the enemy side, using both public and secretive measures. We [Hezbollah] have very good intelligence and very good oversight" (Online, 1). The reality on the ground is that Hezbollah and Israel are bound to fight another regional war at some point, the only question is when. In addition, Nasrallah was quoted early last month and stated, "There are no redlines left in regards to defending Lebanon from Israeli aggression," adding that "Lebanon has a right to defend itself from Israeli attack" (Ibid, 1).
   Nasrallah cautioned Israel to think twice before attacking Iran as well and asserted that Israel would be in for a rude awakening to think that "the resistance," as he put it would simply disintegrate. Nasrallah warned that any attack on Iran "would destroy the area," referring to the Arab world and Iran &, Israel could cease to exist if any attack was initiated by the Jewish State (Ibid, 1). It remains to be seen what will happen, but one thing is for certain: The fight between Hezbollah and Israel is far from over. Hezbollah is designated by Israel, the United States, and Europe as a "terrorist organization," yet for many in the Arab and Muslim world Hezbollah is a revolutionary group that has inherited a quote-on-quote false designation merely because the group is a viable threat to Israel and the group demonstrated this thirteen-years-ago, much to the chagrin and anger of Israel.


Article,

Online, Maariv. The Jerusalem Post.com. "Nasrallah: We Are Threatening Them And We Will Enter Occupied Palestine,"
   https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Nasrallah-We-are-threatening-them-and-we-will-enter-
   occupied-Palestine-603193. 10/2/19. 

Greta Thunberg and Donald Trump Cross Paths at the United Nations Climate Summit

At Center: Greta Thunberg and U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations

September 25, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum


  World leaders have converged on the United Nations in New York for the General Assembly Meeting. Just two days ago, [September 23] the U.N held a Climate Summit to bring awareness on the topic of climate change. The Swedish teen and climate activist Greta Thunberg was a keynote speaker at the Climate Summit on Monday and she gave a scolding speech, specifically going after world leaders for their in action, in combating climate change. In her speech Greta chastised the leaders of the world for doing little to address the issue head on and giving young generations a climate that is in complete shambles.
   Once Greta gave her bombastic speech at the Climate Summit she had a chance encounter that was unexpected. U.S. President Donald Trump surprised those at the Climate Summit, yet some were not thrilled with the sudden arrival of the president. Upon entering the room at the United Nations, the media caught the expression of the trailblazing Swedish teenager and her expression said it all. As President Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence arrived Greta had a dissatisfied and glaring stare down, that seemed to be directed at President Tump, although it is unclear what Greta was staring at.
   Many reacted to Greta's expression and quickly come to the conclusion she was staring down the president for his continual denial of climate change, rolling back environmental protections in the United States, and pulling out of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. It is still unclear what prompted the teen to stare down the president, but it would not be a surprise if it had to do with President Trump believing China made up climate change and the fact that the president is one of the biggest climate change skeptics. According to Justin Wise of The Hill.com, "Thunberg said last month [August, 2019] that Trump 'obviously' doesn't listen to science when assessing global warming" (Wise, 1). It would not be outlandish to consider Greta was in fact staring at President Trump.
   Reaction on Monday to Greta's stare down got unanimous support by many and elicited plenty of jokes. Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson of Texas retweeted a Twitter post that read, "We are all Greta Thunberg." Greta's fight is admirable and many have applauded her efforts to make climate change a priority. Climate change is of grave concern for many around the globe and should be a top priority of all world governments and their leaders. As stated by Mr. Wise, "Thunberg has gained a high profile over the past year for her consistent efforts to address the problems that climate change pose for future generations" (Ibid, 2-3).
   The state of our climate is an issue more people should be involved in fighting because it is our children's children that will be inheriting this planet. We must leave them something that is  sustainable, or else the future of our planet will be in jeopardy.


Article,

Wise, Justin. The Hill.Com,"Video of Greta Thunberg Crossing Paths With Trump At U.N. Goes Viral."
    https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/462662-video-of-greta-thunberg-crossing-paths-
   with-trump-at-un-goes-viral 9/23/19.

U.S. Satellites Allegedly Detect Iran Prepping To Attack ARAMCO

Pictured from left to right: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

September 18, 2019


By Faris K. Barhoum


   This past Saturday, [September 14, 2019] the ARAMCO oil facility in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia was attacked and bombed by drones. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of carrying out the attack. The attack  dealt a significant blow to Saudi oil production and rocked the financial markets. Saudi Aramco officials have stated that the attacks on its plants in Abqaiq and Khurais were "a result of terrorist attacks with projectiles," and the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen took responsibility for the attack (NPR, 2). Saudi Arabia has been at war with Yemen since the spring of 2015 fighting Houthi rebels, which are allegedly trained and backed by Iran. Saudi Arabia and Iran have had a regional rivalry in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf for decades. Both countries are supporting proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

The Saudi Aramco Oil Facility, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia burning after being attacked on Saturday, September 14, 2019.  

   The U.S. Defense Department stated today, [September 17, 2019] that "U.S. surveillance satellites detected Iran readying drones and missiles at launch sites in Iran before Saudi oil facilities were attacked on Saturday." The Defense Department has yet to release any imagery. Additionally, Defense Department officials have told NPR, "that U.S. intelligence views the activity as 'circumstantial evidence' that Iran launched the strike from its own soil" (Ibid, 2). The Houthi rebel movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack as previously stated, but American officials have claimed Iran played a major role in Saturdays attack on ARAMCO. Iran denied taking part in the attack.
   The U.S. Defense Department "has sent a forensic team to Saudi Arabia to examine wreckage of drones and missiles used in the attack." Intelligence experts believe that "examinations could provide 'compelling and convincing' evidence that Iran was behind the attack" (Ibid, 2). As of Tuesday, [September 17, 2019] Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated Iran "will hold no talks at any level with the U.S." Khamenei blamed the Trump administration "for requiring too many conditions," as it pertains to coming to the negotiating table with the United States (Ibid, 3). Some had mentioned the U.S. and Iran could hold an upcoming meeting in New York at the coming U.N. General Assembly in New York.
   As of late, the Trump administration has imposed crippling sanctions in an effort to force Iran to end its support for militant groups and proxies throughout the Arab world, and to make Iran end its development of ballistic missiles. The Trump administration pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal last year, which many believe was a mistake and has brought on renewed tension between Iran and the United States. Many analysts are worried that Washington and Tehran's rhetoric, coupled with attacks such as these, could lead to a regional conflict in the Arab world. Many in the international community and in the Arab world are anxiously waiting to see what comes next.


Article,

NPR.com. "U.S. Satellites Detected Iran Readying Weapons Ahead Of Saudi Strike, Officials Say."
   https://www.npr.org/2019/09/17/761539212/saudi-crisis-irans-supreme-leader-says-no-talks-with-u-
   s-during-u-n-visit. 9/17/19. 

Mr. Tough Guy, The John Bolton Saga

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, pictured in the Oval Office, the
White House.

September 11, 2019



By Faris K. Barhoum







   Well-known Neocon and conservative foreign policy maker and foreign policy official John Bolton recently and abruptly left his position as National Security Advisor to the current Republican administration. Mr. Bolton has served in several administrations, spanning three Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and most recently Donald Trump. Mr. Bolton's surprising exit has left many in Washington perplexed as to what went wrong. Two days after Mr. Bolton stepped down, it was widely reported that Mr. Trump had no appetite for a hawkish National Security Advisor, the likes of Bolton. Mr. Trump also blamed Bolton for his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, in the pursuit of supposed weapons of mass destruction. The United States never found WMDs in Iraq.
    On Wednesday [September 11th], President Trump was asked questions by reporters in the Oval Office and many of the questions asked by the White Press Corp centered around Bolton's resignation. According to President Trump, Mr. Bolton & he got along well and maintained a working relationship, yet President Trump did not hold back in his attacks and criticism of Mr. Bolton. For those looking in from the outside, it would seem odd that Trump would fire such a senior official, especially the likes of John Bolton because Secretary of State John Pompeo is no less a hawk and a Neocon than Mr. Bolton.
   As stated by Quint Forgey of Politico.com, "Trump again claimed later in his remarks that it was he, not Bolton, who at times advocated for a more muscular foreign policy approach, despite Bolton's perceived proclivity for foreign intervention and championing of the 2003 invasion of Iraq from within former President George W. Bush's administration" (Forgey, 2). There is validity to Trump's argument when it comes down to John Bolton's foreign policy and his hawkish views. With that being said, Trump has no moral standing when it comes down to criticizing and attacking John Bolton because Trump vowed not to get involved in foreign entanglements around the globe. It is fair to point out the Trump has continued to widen American involvement in numerous countries, although his campaign called for putting America first.
   U.S. involvement in Syria and Iraq is ever widening. President Trump bombed Syria twice in 2017 and 2018 (U.S. Special Forces have been in Syria in a limited role since 2015, under President Obama), & Mr. Trump has continued to aid Saudi Arabia in their war against Yemen through intelligence and arms exports (the war in Yemen started under President Obama); and U.S. involvement in Afghanistan has entered into its eighteenth-year. Trump has also advocated for a military coup in Venezuela on numerous occasions in the last year, & this past summer Mr. Trump called off a limited strike on Iran.
   The Trump administration is fooling no one, especially those who are critical of is foreign policy. President Tump is trying to separate himself from Mr. Bolton, but President Trump's foreign policy is no different than that of previous Republican presidents, and for that matter Democratic presidents as well.


Article,

Forgey, Quint. Politico.com, "Mr. Tough Guy: Trump Delivers Vicious Take Down Of Bolton,"
   https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/11/trump-takedown-bolton-national-security-
  1489690.  9/11/19. .

Uncertain Times in the U.K. U.K. Lawmakers Defy Johnson on Election, Delivering Another Brexit Blow

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson debating his colleagues in
British Parliament, September 4, 2019.

September 4, 2019

By Faris K. Barhoum 

    The British government in the Spring of 2016 proposed and pushed for a vote for the U.K. to part ways with the EU or European Union. Ultimately, the citizens of the U.K. voted to leave the EU and since then the government of the U.K has yet to formally come to a vote as it pertains to leaving the EU. Since the spring of 2016, the British government has seen two prime ministers come and go without delivering on a Brexit vote to leave the EU. Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May stepped down this past July and Boris Johnson, the former Foreign Secretary and former mayor of London took over as the prime minister in July. Since taking over on 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Johnson has called for the U.K. to vote to leave the EU.

    Several U.K. lawmakers are vehemently opposed to leaving the EU, all the while Prime Minister Johnson is determined to have the British Parliament vote on leaving the EU entirely. Many U.K. lawmakers are not happy with Prime Minister Johnson because he has no plan for what comes after his proposed Brexit vote. With no clear plan after Brexit many in British Parliament are not comfortable with such uncertainty. To complicate matters further, last week Prime Minister Johnson called for British Parliament to disband, & called for a snap election. As of today, [Wednesday, September 4, 2019] the opposition in British Parliament refused Johnson's Brexit vote and his call for a snap election.

   As of Wednesday, the British Parliament blocked Johnson's vote to withdraw from the EU. As stated by Stephen Castle of The New York Times, "After opposition and rebel Tory lawmakers seized control of the Brexit process from Mr. Johnson on Tuesday, they doubled down on Wednesday by advancing a bill to block a withdrawal from the European Union without a deal. Then, just hours later, they rejected Mr. Johnson's request for a snap election, at least until their no-deal Brexit measure becomes the law of the land" (Castle, 1). It remains to be seen what will happen in the U.K., but it is safe to say there is quite a bit of uncertainty and anxiety as it pertains to Brexit.  

    Many believe that Johnson has lost the British Parliament all together. Several analysts have stated "that Mr. Johnson could still get his election soon, but the latest rebuff was a stark indication that he had lost control of Parliament," Castle continues, "It was a sobering day [Wednesday, September 4, 2019] for Mr. Johnson, a politician whose bombast and supreme self-confidence finally met a wall of opposition amid a fierce backlash over his decisions to suspend Parliament for five weeks and to expel 21 lawmakers who rebelled against him on Tuesday. And with the purge, he may have fractured his Conservative Party" (Ibid, 1). It is clear that Prime Minister Johnson is at odds with many of his fellow lawmakers, as well as with some of his fellow citizens. Additionally, the Brexit debate will not be solved if some British lawmakers are suspended for mere disagreement. Nonetheless, the debate will continue and we shall see where this debate leads if and when it is resolved. Till then as they say, "God Save the Queen," but in this case, "God Save the U.K."

Article,

Castle, Stephen. The New York Times, "U.K. Lawmakers Batter Johnson Again, Defying Him

  On Brexit & Election,"

  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/world/europe/brexit-boris-johnson-parliament.html. 9/4/19.

What is BDS? The Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement and the Right to Palestinian Sovereignty Explained

Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa, pictured above.

August 28, 2019




By Faris K. Barhoum





   The BDS or Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement was birthed in the 1980s. The BDS Movement was started to address the apartheid South African regimes racist and discriminatory tactics that effected black South Africans and other communities of color in South Africa. In an effort to exert pressure on the white-Afrikaner lead apartheid regime, many in academia, political activists, and those in the arts around the world pushed for divestment from companies, that did business with the apartheid lead white-Afrikaner government. In essence, the BDS Movement's main goal in South Africa, was to exert maximum pressure on entities that supported the apartheid lead government economically and militarily at the time.

      The BDS Movement in South Africa was successful and saw an end to the apartheid era, & brought about reconciliation and a unity government that brought together South Africans of all backgrounds, colors, creeds, and religions. The fact of the matter is that non-violent and peaceful justice movements affect change and hold those in positions of power accountable for their crimes and misdeeds. Thirty-some-years-later, the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Movement has gained worldwide traction in an effort to give Palestinians their civil and voting rights in Palestine. The BDS Movement in Palestine was started and inspired by "the Civil Rights Movement, and actions to end apartheid in South Africa" (Collins, 2). 

      Omar Barghouti, is a Palestinian human rights activist and he founded the BDS Movement, using South Africa as an example to follow. BDS was started 13-years-ago in effort to bring attention to Israels illegal military colonial occupation of historic Palestine. With the South African BDS Movement in mind, Mr. Barghouti and "170 Palestinian civil society groups," have been calling on the Jewish State to cease and desist from continuing the colonial military occupation of the "West  Bank, East & West Jerusalem, [the Gaza Strip], and the Golan Heights," which Israel took over in the June 1967 War (Ibid, 2). The BDS Movement is also calling on the United Nations to enforce resolution 242, which calls on Israel to permanently "withdraw from territories occupied in recent conflict," i.e. the 1967 War (Ibid, 2). 

    As of late, Israel has claimed that BDS "delegitimizes the Jewish State," & "eventually [BDS] will eliminate [the Jewish State] altogether (Ibid, 2). Palestinians and supports of BDS, stress "that this movement is a non-violent approach to protesting Israel's [colonial] military rule over occupied territories" (Ibid, 2). As the conversation on BDS has grown and become louder, some in the Jewish community who support Israel, who are Zionist, are equating that those who support BDS are "anti-Semitic" or have ties to "terrorism." There are several prominent Jews and Israel's who are anti-Zionist who support BDS and want to see an end to apartheid in Israel-Palestine, & want a society that is a democracy for all, whether one is Palestinian or Israeli. Regardless of which side one stands on, one thing is clear: A conversation has started and it will be interesting to see where the conversation on BDS leads. Time will tell. 

Article,

Collins, Terry. "What Is BDS? Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions, Explained,

  https://fortune.com/2019/08/19/what-is-bds-in-relation-to-israel/.