Joint Statement by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada on Israel's actions in Gaza

Joint Statement by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada on Israel's actions in Gaza

    Monday, May 19, 2025   No comments

 Joint Statement by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada on Israel's actions in Gaza

"We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response. We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions. "

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism, and the West

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Terrorism, and the West

    Friday, April 25, 2025   No comments

Journalist prefaced her question to Pakistani official by stating that Pakistan has a lonh g history of supporting terrorism. In response, the Pakistani Minister of Defense replied:

"We have been doing this dirty work for the United States and the West — including Britain — for about three decades."

He is referencing Pakistan's role in training the "mujahideen" of Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union, who later, under al-Qaeda leadership, one of the Mujahideen groups, attacked US on 9/11, and that started the war on terror, which Pakistan joined again, under the request of the West. 

The crisis in Kashmir has been just one element that created the alliance between Saudi Arabia, United States, and Pakistan to "radicalize", which means, to wahhabitize Muslims, to fight the "good" war against the Soviet Union, and Pakistan hoped that it can use them to control all of Kashmir, too. It turned out that using religion for political gains did not work well for all three partners in the long run.

 

France will recognize Palestine Soon

France will recognize Palestine Soon

    Friday, April 11, 2025   No comments

The West is behind in recognizing the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination. But it is better late then never.

West's refusal to recognize Palestine as an independent state could have prevented the October attacks and the cycle of wars in Gaza. Now some Western countries, including France, are coming to accept that potential.

France's president just announced that France will recognize Palestine in months.  France’s potential recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state is quite important, despite the fact that 147 out of 193 UN member states have already done so. Here's why France’s stance carries significant weight:

1. France's Influence in the West

France is a major Western power—a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a founding member of the European Union, and part of the G7. Most of the countries that haven’t recognized Palestine are Western or aligned with the U.S. position, including the U.S., UK, Germany, and others. So, a shift in France’s stance could:

• Encourage other Western countries to reconsider their position.
• Break the perception of a unified Western front against recognition.

2. European Policy Shift

Macron's statement might signal a broader shift in EU policy, especially since he hinted this move could happen in coordination with other states or at a UN summit in June. This could:

• Build momentum for a multilateral recognition initiative.
• Put pressure on other EU members to align or clarify their positions.

3. Symbolic & Diplomatic Impact

• Recognition from a country like France is more than symbolic:
• It could increase diplomatic legitimacy for Palestine on the global stage.
• It might influence international forums, aid flows, and negotiations.
• It adds pressure on Israel by elevating the statehood issue beyond bilateral talks.

4. Tactical Timing

France possibly tying this recognition to a UN event in June also gives it diplomatic weight—it suggests recognition could become part of a broader international initiative, maybe even linked to Arab normalization with Israel.

Sensing US fractured foreign policy, China formulates its foreign policy with Taiwan and recognition of independent Palestine top priorities

Sensing US fractured foreign policy, China formulates its foreign policy with Taiwan and recognition of independent Palestine top priorities

    Saturday, March 09, 2024   No comments

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the US foreign policy was built on a compelling narrative of human rights and democracy and on a powerful military. Because powerful militaries need justifying rhetoric, the US prioritized is human rights claims. The nexus between human rights norms and Western intervention has collapsed with the ongoing starvation of civilians in Gaza and the near total destruction of homes and infrastructure in the Strip. The difference of Western postures to the war and Ukraine and the War in Gaza made the disconnect even more obvious. China sees these developments as an opportunity to create a foreign policy that is more consistent and that benefit from the self-inflicted injuries of Western powers. The analysis of current events provides more background information.

In Beijing yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference on the sidelines of the “Meeting of the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress,” in which he discussed the “shape” that the foreign policy of the “People’s Republic of China” will take during the coming year. While the Chinese official repeated some of the well-known broad lines of his country’s foreign policy, it seemed remarkable that he escalated “in tone” with regard to some files, especially those related to “Taiwan independence” and American practices towards China. On the other hand, in response to a question about Chinese-Russian relations, Wang Yi stressed that Moscow and Beijing had made the choice to “preserve bilateral relations and develop them strategically, on the basis of the fundamental interests of the two peoples,” considering that the two countries had established a “new model” of relations between large countries. It is represented by a commitment to permanent good neighborliness and deepening comprehensive strategic cooperation on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of a third party,” which “is different from what existed during the Cold War.” Speaking about the latter, the Chinese official considered that “this war should not be repeated,” given that the people have now “rejected the idea of hegemony” and will not accept division. When asked about the Israeli crimes committed in the Gaza Strip, Yi stressed that the “inability” to stop “the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the twenty-first century, is tragic for humanity, and a disgrace to civilization,” noting that “what “There is no pretext or excuse that justifies the continuation of the conflict and the killing of civilians,” he said. Wang Yi also stressed that “it is not permissible to continue to ignore the long-term occupation of the Palestinian territories, and the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state, as well as the continuation of the historical injustice that this people has suffered over the generations, without correcting it.” According to the Chinese official, “Getting out of the spiral of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict once and for all, removing the fertile ground for extremist ideas of all kinds, and truly achieving lasting peace in the Middle East is not possible except by restoring the Palestinian people’s rights,” and implementing the “two-state solution.” In a comprehensive manner. He also renewed the call for granting Palestine “full membership in the Security Council,” along with “holding a more effective and credible international peace conference,” to set a timetable for implementing the principle of the “two-state solution.” With regard to Taiwan, Beijing, through its Foreign Minister, reiterated Emphasizing that its “clear” policy is to continuously seek the peaceful reunification of the island, warning, in return, that “the red line is clear” on this issue as well, which is not to allow “the separation of Taiwan from the motherland.” Wang Yi added, addressing the authorities in Taiwan and their allies: “Whoever prepares (for Taiwan independence) from within the island of Taiwan will inevitably be held accountable by history. Whoever tolerates that independence and supports it on the international scene will be consumed by the fire he kindled, and will eat the bitter fruits he sowed.” Wang Yi also called on all Chinese people to “give priority to the supreme national interest” and oppose Taiwan independence “together.”

Prior to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statements, some Chinese media outlets, especially the state-owned Global Times newspaper, hinted that Prime Minister Li Qiang had escalated, in the annual “government work report” he submitted to the “Chinese People’s Congress,” regarding... Taiwan, as he did not mention the term “peaceful reunification,” stressing instead that China “will be resolute in pushing for the reunification of China.” While some Western observers said that this step was “deliberate” by Beijing, considering that it may be “an indication of a more assertive future stance towards Taiwan,” the deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University did not deny this, in an interview with the newspaper. The Chinese, the aforementioned point of view, considered that deleting the phrase “indicates that confronting secession attempts and containing Taiwan independence provocations will be a more urgent and practical task for the mainland in the coming years.”

Although the Chinese Foreign Minister stressed, once again, the necessity of not dragging Beijing and Washington into any kind of confrontation or conflict, in order to avoid “unpleasant consequences,” he quickly “escalated” his criticism of American practices, asking: “If The United States was saying one thing and doing another, so where is its credibility as a major country? If the United States feels tense and anxious just hearing the name (China), where is its self-confidence as a major country? (...)». He added that Washington faces problems “with itself, not with China,” considering that the American “addiction” to Beijing’s “suppression” will ultimately harm the United States itself. The Chinese minister’s criticism also extended to Europe, as he saw that the latter “classified China in three categories at the same time, that is, partner, competitor, and systemic adversary,” considering that such a classification is unrealistic and unenforceable.

Rim Hani

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar accuses other countries in the European Union, and the West in general, of double standards against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar accuses other countries in the European Union, and the West in general, of double standards against the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East

    Sunday, November 19, 2023   No comments

Irish Prime Minister Calls Out ‘Double Standards’ in EU’s Israel-Palestine Policy

In an interview with the Irish radio station RTE, Varadkar accused the European Union and other Western countries, saying that “failing to take a reaction similar to the absolute rejection of what Russian President Vladimir Putin did in Ukraine, with regard to Israel, is seen as duplicity in Standards".

The Irish government warned, shortly after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Palestinian resistance against Israel on October 7, that Israel should not exaggerate its reaction in the Gaza Strip, otherwise it would risk losing the support of other countries.

According to the German News Agency, Varadkar seeks to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, and said that his country early adopted a clear position that Israel has the right to...

To defend itself, but it has no right to violate humanitarian law.

Varadkar expressed concern that double standards on the part of some countries would undermine Ukraine's struggle, and stated that he and European leaders were working hard to gain support from the Global South for Ukraine.

Clare Daly, Member of the European Parliament: The Nations of the world will not be lectured amy more by Europe about Human Rights

Clare Daly, Member of the European Parliament: The Nations of the world will not be lectured amy more by Europe about Human Rights

    Monday, November 13, 2023   No comments

Clare Daly about the hypocrisy regarding Western talking heads' "standing with Ukraine" & silence on Gaza.

"We are in a situation now in Gaza, where we have genocide openly declared and carried out. where the numbers of civilians slaughtered and murdered in 30 days in Gaza exceeds the civilian death toll in Ukraine."