Over 200 lawmakers from 13 countries make joint call for an end to arms exports to Israel
MORE than 200 lawmakers from 13 countries issued a joint call today against their countries’ arms exports to Israel.
In an open letter, co-ordinated by the Progressive International, 218 lawmakers from 13 countries declared their “commitment to end our nations’ arms sales to the state of Israel.”
The politicians, who serve in parliaments of countries that export weapons or parts to Israel, say they will “not be complicit in Israel’s grave violation of international law” and instead call for an arms embargo, pledging to “immediate and co-ordinated action in their respective legislatures to stop our countries from arming Israel.”
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[Morally bankrupt] UK Conservatives: Edited video attack ad on London Mayor was not misinformation
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LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Britain’s governing Conservative Party on Friday brushed off criticism of an attack video it posted on social media that misrepresented comments by a senior opposition politician to make it look like he was proud to be antisemitic.
In a television interview on Thursday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Labour was “proud to be both anti-racist but also antisemitic – I beg your pardon, tackling antisemitism.”
Later, the Conservative Party posted the clip on X without including the part where he clarified the comment. The caption said “Sadiq Khan says the quiet part out loud.”
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Sunak’s extremism speech 1 to 5
Not decided if I’ll do more (but I probably will because I enjoy telling him how it is ;).
US to begin aid airdrops into Gaza but critics dismiss effort as inadequate
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/01/gaza-airdrop-food-aid-us-biden
Decision to airdrop supplies suggests Biden has given up on being able to persuade Israel to coordinate ground-based relief
The US will start airdrops of food and emergency supplies into Gaza in the next few days, Joe Biden has announced, amid UN warnings of famine and after Israeli troops opened fire on Gazans seeking food aid.
The use of airdrops is a spectacular but inefficient way of delivering aid, and Friday’s announcement suggests that Biden had given up on being able to persuade Israel in the near future to coordinate a large-scale ground-based relief effort under the threat of mass starvation across Gaza.
Critics suggested it represented no more than a gesture, which obscured Biden’s reluctance to use US leverage to force Israel to be more cooperative in the delivery of humanitarian aid.
“Airdrops are not the solution to relieve this suffering, and distract time and effort from proven solutions to help at scale,” the International Rescue Committee aid organisation said. “All diplomatic focus should be on ensuring Israel lifts its siege of Gaza.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/01/gaza-airdrop-food-aid-us-biden