Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

EDITORIAL | Facing Evil

Every day presents new challenges. How do you respond to them? When you look in the mirror, what do you see? You could use your hammer to shatter glass and break things apart or use your hammer to forge steel, applying the same energy to create something enduring. It’s all about how you confront the gloom and doom around you. You have the power to improve yourself, or you could allow it to weigh you down. Each day is a choice—will you embrace goodness or let the darkness in?

It's easy to start sliding into the slippery slope of evil. Some Republicans enjoy calling Democrats ‘demoncrats.’ I’m not making this up; I’ve heard them say it. When you’re soaring above everyone else, riding a holier-than-thou roller coaster, you might be in trouble, playing Russian Roulette against yourself. To quote Chaucer, ‘Overconfidence is our greatest enemy.”

While there are a few Israelis and Americans who hold the troubling belief that indigenous Palestinians don’t have the right to exist, seeing them as less than human, it’s essential to recognize that most people in these communities think differently. However, their perspectives often don’t get the spotlight they deserve in the mainstream media.

Some Americans view the First Amendment's protection of free speech as something that primarily applies to American citizens. However, it’s likely that most believe legal immigrants share similar free speech rights, especially those who are permanent residents. They deserve the opportunity to engage in constitutionally protected protests or advocacy just like their fellow citizens do. Withholding this right would take away from the invaluable experience of being part of an American university community.

It’s crucial for students on foreign visas to feel free to express themselves and engage in political speech without the fear of visa revocation or deportation. This is especially germane for those coming from more authoritarian regimes. If we truly aim to teach them about American liberal democracy – freedom in America – we shouldn’t let the fear of deportation overshadow their experience while they’re here.

Unlawful conduct or violence can lead to deportation, but it's important to remember that expressing one's views should not indiscriminately put someone at risk of being deported. When the administration makes arrests for having "pro-Hamas sympathies" and individuals suddenly go missing, it creates a climate of fear among political protesters. They start to question what kind of speech is acceptable, worried about potential government actions at any moment. This understandably stifles free expression and discourages open dialogue.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges that Mr. Khalil was involved in activities that they say align with Hamas. But what does that mean? How much pro-Palestinian or anti-Israeli advocacy is considered enough? What exactly is meant by "aligning” with Hamas is also puzzling. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a similar vague statement. It would be much more reassuring if they could provide clear criteria for enforcement under these directives.

Clarity could go a long way in addressing these concerns!

VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH PUTIN, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE GORBACHEV-REAGAN DETENTE

Twenty years ago, Russia's President Putin attempted to engage constructively with the West – NO DICE.

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Published on 2 September 2022

“In July 2001, during his first press conference at the Kremlin, President Putin, echoing his predecessor Boris Yeltsin, enthusiastically suggested that Russia join NATO, the defense alliance established in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat.”

Editor’s note: The Soviet Union collapsed and disintegrated in December 1991. On December 25, 1991, the Soviet flag was lowered for the last time at the Kremlin, replaced by the Russian tricolor. Earlier, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union, making Boris Yeltsin president of the new Russian state.

On September 25, 2001, just a few weeks after the tragic events of September 11, Mr. Putin addressed over 650 members of the Bundestag in Berlin, sharing thoughts during a challenging time for many.

               "Russia is a friendly European country. For our country, which has endured a century of war catastrophes, the main goal is stable peace on the continent," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He began speaking in Russian and smoothly transitioned to perfect German, sharing his vision of expanding the German-Russian partnership into a collaborative "European house." He went on to explain:

               "The Cold War is over."

Mr. Putin assumed the presidency in March 2000. Three months later, he gave his inaugural State of the Union address, outlining his vision for a cooperative, peaceful, and integrated Russia with the European Union (EU) and the U.S.

               "Instead of standing against the international community or other strong nations, let’s strive to work together with them."

In July 2001, during his first press conference at the Kremlin, President Putin, echoing his predecessor Boris Yeltsin, enthusiastically suggested that Russia join NATO, the defense alliance established in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat. (Editor’s note: The Soviet Union is distinct from the Russian Federation.)

The United States did not respond directly to Putin's proposal, but the NATO-Russia Council was established a year later. In June 2001, then-US President George W. Bush "looked Putin in the eye" and stated:

               "I found President Putin to be very direct and trustworthy … I could get a feel for his soul, a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country."

On the other hand, Putin contrasted Bush's friendly remarks sharply with NATO's expansion.

               "It is a military organization. Yes, military! Yes, NATO is advancing toward our border!”

               Why?"

The narrative that the West aims to encircle and destabilize Russia began to take shape in the Kremlin during Putin's initial term. In 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia became NATO members, following Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic’s earlier accession five years prior. The Kremlin viewed this as a strategy to diminish Russia's influence in its sphere.

As Mr. Putin's first two terms in office neared completion, a pivotal moment arose in Russia's ties with the West. In early 2007, during the Munich Security Conference, Putin candidly expressed his views, critiquing the West more explicitly than before.

               He said the US was striving for "monopolar world domination" and imposed its norms on other states by force.

               Mr. Putin called NATO's eastward expansion a provocation that weakened mutual trust.

               He said armed forces were closing in on Russia's state borders while Russia exercised restraint. It was a warning: "up to here and no further."

In 2008, Moscow established a firm boundary against NATO expansion, preventing Georgia and Ukraine from joining the alliance.

…

In comments shared by Interfax, Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, referred to Mr. Gorbachev as "an extraordinary and unique individual" while also describing him as a "romantic" who naively hoped that the West could form a friendship with post-Soviet Russia.

               "Gorbachev initiated the end of the Cold War and genuinely believed it would conclude, ushering in a lasting romantic era between the new Soviet Union and the global community, particularly the collective West," Mr. Peskov stated.

               "That romanticism didn’t pan out," Mr. Peskov continued.

               "The bloodthirstiness of our opponents showed itself, and it is good that we have realized and understood it in time."

…

Intelligence and espionage agencies worldwide, leaders of states, diplomats, political commentators, and journalists are all trying to fathom Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions and understand the aim of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

You don't have to search too much and go too far. Ask the late Mikhail Gorbachev! But first, let me quickly refer you to Our Friday News Analysis of 5 August 2022, 'Blood is Thicker than Water,' in which I stated:

               "Mr. Putin wants to increase his market share to improve the Russian economy, not by grabbing land but by selling Russian oil, gas, foodstuffs, and other natural resources. Yes, Mr. Putin fully intends to expand his sphere of influence to make money, not to hoist the Russian flag all over Europe."

…

On 25 August 2022. 'A Balance of Power Through a Balance of Terror Part 2,' I implored the young and wet-behind-the-ears new president of Ukraine to:

“Mr. Zelensky, Embrace Your True Leadership Potential!”

Has Mr. Zelensky done all he could to avoid war with Russia? He inherited a civil war between nationalists in the West and separatists in the East, a conflict brewing since the 1980s. What could the inexperienced President of Ukraine have done?

Mr. Zelensky had the opportunity to engage the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) to ensure the safety of all Ukrainians, particularly those of Russian descent who felt their lives were in danger, as ASOV (Ukrainian neo-Nazis) labeled many as saboteurs, separatists, or simply undesirables.

Mr. Zelensky could have involved the EU-US (NATO) alliance to ensure that Russia maintains access to Ukraine’s Black Sea seaports, including Odesa, which would support shipping routes for the unrestricted movement of Russian (and Ukrainian) oil, gas, grain, and other food products.

Mr. Zelensky could have involved the EU-US (NATO) Coalition to ensure the uninterrupted Russian oil and gas flow via modern pipelines running from Russia through Ukraine to Central Europe and Germany.

Mr. Zelensky could have established trade agreements with all member states linked to the EU-US (NATO) Axis.

Mr. Zelensky could have maintained Ukraine’s neutrality and profited from its role as a conduit between East and West trade agreements.

And what an economic feast it could have been for Ukraine, located between East and West. As a natural conduit, neutral Ukraine could have been the buffer between the EU-US (NATO) member states and the Russian Federation, with all its natural resources coveted by the EU.

Ukraine could now earn $billions of new-found revenues as a go-between of East and West.

Instead, the East and West are at war. Global hegemony is at stake. The people of Ukraine, serving the EU-US (NATO) Axis as cannon fodder and human shields, are smack in the middle.”

…

In ill health in the last months of his life, Mr. Gorbachev said nothing publicly about Mr. Putin's war in Ukraine. The son of a Ukrainian mother and a Russian father, Mr. Gorbachev shared Mr. Putin's view that Ukraine should be in Russia's orbit, once telling a journalist:

               "It might not be a scientific fact, but we are the same people."

He backed Mr. Putin's 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula, asserting it aligned with "the will of the people there."

In October 2014, he referred to the United States as "a great plague."

The following month, during a commemoration for the fall of the Berlin Wall in Berlin, 'Gorbi' expressed that he was "absolutely convinced that Putin defends Russia's interests better than anyone else. "

To a Siberian news outlet that the worst could be avoided, Mr. Gorbachev could not have fathomed that a war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine — between ‘brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends, cousins — was inevitable.

               "A war between Russia and Ukraine — this is absurd," he said.

Two days after Mr. Putin's invasion in February, his Gorbachev Foundation, a research institute that "seeks to promote democratic values, "issued a statement calling for a "speedy cessation of hostilities" and "the immediate start of peace talks."

It is now indisputable that Mr. Zelensky, under pressure from the U.S. and the EU, declined to confront Mr. Putin to negotiate an amicable – win-win – deal.

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited by Abraham A. van Kempen

ANALYSIS | WHAT DO TRUMP AND PUTIN HAVE IN COMMON?

Is Trump's admiration for Putin affecting his wish to conclude the war and restore U.S.-Russia relations?

Pragmatische rationale Nationalisten: Präsidenten Trump und Putin in Helsinki, 2018. Bild: Alexey Nikolsky/Sputnik/Kremlin / Epa

Edited/annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen
Crafted with insights from Professor Glenn Diesen’s article in:
Die Weltwoche
18 March 2025

“Trump’s statements suggest he identifies with Putin. Instead of engaging in conspiracy theories of collusion, let’s explore the sociological perspective
to understand the precepts of “us” and the “other.”

Humans are social beings who form groups, defining in-group “us” versus out-group “them” as opposites.

The distinction between “us” and “them” is often created to foster group solidarity, portrayed as good versus evil or superior versus inferior.

Ending the Ukraine conflict is rational: the proxy war is lost, escalation may lead to nuclear war, and Russia grows closer to China. But does Trump's affinity for Putin influence his desire to end the war and mend US-Russia ties?

During a meeting with Zelensky, Trump supported Putin, citing their shared adversaries. Trump stated,

               “Putin went through a lot with me during the phony witch hunt—Russia, Russia, Russia, right? It was a Democrat scam. He endured it.”

Trump claimed any broken deals with Putin were Obama's and Biden’s, asserting he respected their agreements.

Trump’s statements indicate he identifies with Putin. Instead of conspiracy theories about collusion, a sociological perspective helps us understand our definitions of “us” and the “other.” Humans are social beings forming groups, defining in-group “us” against out-group “other” as opposites. The distinction between “us” and “them” promotes group solidarity, framed as good versus evil or superior versus inferior.

Russia is seen as Europe’s “other,” complicating compromise, as its negative identity reinforces Europe’s positive one. Their relationship has framed the West versus East, civilized versus barbaric, and during the Cold War, capitalist versus communist. Reviving European divides post-Cold War with NATO's expansion redefined “us” versus “them” to liberal democracies against authoritarian regimes. Relations are viewed through this lens, positioning the West as the good guy and Russia as the perennial bad guy.

Nationalism versus Cosmopolitanism

Portraying Trump’s affinity for Putin as a friendship between authoritarians is both convenient and lazy. Critics argue that Trump's authoritarian leanings explain his connection to Putin, revealing a weak analysis. This perspective highlights how people maintain group solidarity by punishing those who diverge from the norm. Attempts to bridge divides are often met with suspicion and accusations of treason.

The framing of the free world versus authoritarian alliances
demonizes Trump and Putin while reinforcing Western values.

To use Bush's words, “They hate us for our freedoms.”

This framing is flawed; Trump (or Putin) views himself not in terms of authoritarianism versus freedom but through patriotism against globalism or nationalism versus cosmopolitanism.

The liberal identity unified the Political West after the Cold War but caused a rift within the liberal nation-state. Excesses of global liberalism created a divide between liberalism and nationalism, destabilizing this nation-state. Recently, liberalism has distanced itself from the nation-state, rejecting unity from shared history and culture. In 2004, Samuel Huntington predicted a conservative backlash from a neo-liberal elite.

The public prioritizes physical and societal security, including the sustainability of language, culture, religion, and national identity. However, many elites prioritize participating in the global economy, like supporting trade and migration, strengthening institutions, promoting American values, and encouraging minority cultures. The key difference between the public and elites lies in nationalism versus cosmopolitanism, not isolationism versus internationalism.

In international politics, Russia shifts from being an authoritarian out-group to a traditional Christian European in-group, rejecting liberalism and moral decadence. Trump also identifies with Viktor Orban of Hungary, who emphasizes Europe's Christian heritage.

Some reject the German perspective of Europe, which promotes liberal, post-national ideals viewed as woke: open borders, globalism, and cosmopolitan identity, undermining national interests. Europe’s identity as a liberal nation-state used to balance nationalism and liberalism, but now liberalism has primarily detached from the nation. Consequently, liberals and nationalists see each other as threats, affecting relations between great powers.

Russiagate and the Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal

Trump’s references to Russiagate and the Hunter Biden laptop scandal during his clash with Zelensky in the Oval Office show he sees these issues as key to understanding the collapse of US-Russia relations.

Little reflection exists on how Russiagate harmed US-Russia relations, leading to misunderstanding of Trump’s argument. Democrats used Russia to sabotage Trump in the 2016 election, undermine his presidency, and again in 2020. Actual collusion involved the Democratic Party, intelligence agencies, and the media.

Cowboys – the good guys – versus Indians – the bad guys

The US adopted a new anti-Russian McCarthyism to purge its opposition, requiring all to denounce Russia as an enemy. Trump’s efforts to improve US-Russia relations were seen as a threat to the liberal democratic-authoritarian divide sustaining NATO, undermining his political platform. A broad consensus persisted that Russia aided Trump in winning the 2016 election.

During the 2020 presidential race, the media suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, calling it Russian disinformation for Trump. Similar unfounded claims surfaced regarding Russia offering bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan, with Trump’s weak response viewed as Kremlin influence. Political disputes worsened US-Russia relations, leading to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Neither the Cowboy nor the Indian

Is it surprising that Trump views himself and Putin as facing similar enemies, shaping his in-group versus out-group perspective? Russiagate aimed to promote a narrative of authoritarians conspiring against freedom, which has been debunked as based on fraudulent evidence. Nonetheless, Democrats and Europeans cling to this narrative to maintain their identities as the “good guys” and their opponents as the “bad guys." From Trump's perspective, this was an attack on democracy by Democrats, harming relations with Russia and undermining global peace.

Can we blame Trump for viewing the world as divided between pragmatic nationalists prioritizing their countries and a globalist elite undermining national interests and democracy?

PROFESSOR GLENN DIESEN | UKRAINE WAR AND MEDIA MANIPULATION: WHO CONTROLS WHAT YOU SEE?

Battles between good and evil rally public support for war, complicating lasting peace.

Watch The Video Here (1 Hour, 5 Minutes, 21 Seconds)

Host Glenn Diesen
SaltCubeAnalytics
19 March 2025

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on SaltCubeAnalytics, where we delved into essential insights regarding the significant functions of narrative control and propaganda in wartime. Viewing conflicts merely as battles between good and evil tends to galvanize public support for war; however, this perspective can complicate the pursuit of enduring peace.

Topics Covered

• How the media manufactures consent and controls narratives of war
• The impact of propaganda and perception management in the Ukraine conflict
• Western versus Russian media: Who propagates disinformation?
• Why are peace talks ignored in favor of extending war?
• The silencing of dissent: Critics banned, blacklisted, erased

NOOR & MAHMOUD: YOUNG HEARTS, BE FREE TONIGHT, TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

Noor Abdalla, the pregnant wife of illegally arrested Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, is from Flint. Naturally.

By Michael Moore
Substack.com
18 March 2025

“We are truly fortunate to live in a country like this and to have access to a safe and accessible education... I attend class knowing that I am secure in many respects."

"I'm safe from air strikes and free to express my thoughts.
I can discuss my passions with professors and dream big.”

“We must acknowledge our privilege and redirect it towards a greater purpose—supporting those who lack access to education, travel long distances to attend school, are denied the opportunity to learn, and struggle with reading and writing."

“Class of 2018, what a world we live in!"

You switch on the TV, encountering one heartbreaking tragedy after another — whether it's gun violence in high schools all over the country, mass shootings, discrimination due to skin color, and even in our city amidst the Flint water crisis.”

Noor Abdalla

Friends,

I want to share a story about a young woman whose parents immigrated from Syria to America for a better life. This reflects the immigrant narrative in the U.S. They settled in a Syrian-American community in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, akin to earlier groups from Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Poland who formed similar communities to thrive as new Americans.

Thousands of miles from Syria, they built a new life and welcomed a baby girl, an American citizen, in Flint, overshadowed by General Motors' factories. When she finished high school and started college, the Governor of Michigan committed political terrorism by diverting the city’s water and poisoning its residents.

This caused fatalities and lifelong health issues for Flint’s children. Yet, the governor faced no repercussions or homicide charges, guilty only of "treating government like a business.” He embodies a true patriot, a traditional white man indifferent to a predominantly Black city.

This girl, raised here, chose to stay despite opportunities to leave. After high school, she enrolled at the University of Michigan-Flint, excelling in science and biology while researching the Zika virus, child labor in India, and lead poisoning from contaminated water in Flint.

When she graduated in spring 2018, she stood out among her peers as the commencement speaker for her class. The school’s administrators honored her, stating she epitomized the tradition of “Leaders & Best at the University of Michigan.”

Noor Abdalla, with her Syrian parents watching proudly, addressed her fellow students about her upbringing and the horrors of the ongoing civil war in Syria, now entering its 8th year. She then said this:

               “We are truly fortunate to live in a country like this and to have access to a safe and accessible education... I attend class knowing that I am secure in many respects."

               "I'm safe from air strikes and free to express my thoughts. I can discuss my passions with professors and dream big.”

               “We must acknowledge our privilege and redirect it towards a greater purpose—supporting those who lack access to education, travel long distances to attend school, are denied the opportunity to learn, and struggle with reading and writing."

               “Class of 2018, what a world we live in!"

               “You switch on the TV, encountering one heartbreaking tragedy after another — whether it's gun violence in high schools all over the country, mass shootings, discrimination due to skin color, and even in our city amidst the Flint water crisis.”

The speech is both beautiful and impactful, concluding with her citation of Nelson Mandela:

               “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

Well…

Seven years later, Noor Abdalla remains unsafe.

She can't speak her mind on college campuses — nor can anyone else. If education is a powerful weapon for change, then the Trump administration's actions of targeting students, dismantling the Department of Education, banning books, and intimidating people into silence make sense.

A week ago, Noor Abdalla, eight months pregnant, and her husband Mahmoud returned to their graduate student housing apartment and were confronted by a group of white men who refused to identify themselves. The leader, a middle-aged Caucasian in cargo pants and a Marvel t-shirt taunted Mahmoud, saying, “We have you!” As they dragged Noor’s husband away, she demanded their identities and department of government.

               “We don’t give names,” a man says as Mahmoud is shoved into a van and driven off into the night.

This seems insane—outlandish and fictional—except that it was caught on video by Noor Abdalla, a U of M-Flint 2018 graduating class commencement speaker from Flint, Michigan—a young woman with an education and a camera.

Here is the video Noor Abdalla made of her husband being taken away illegally. She recorded this in sheer panic as her husband appeared to be abducted by a group of white thugs, uncertain if she would ever see him again. This is something everyone should see:

Watch The Video Here (1 Minutes, 58 Seconds)

Mahmoud Khalil, Noor’s husband, was a key voice for Gazans during last year’s anti-genocide protests at Columbia University. His Palestinian parents raised him in a refugee camp in Syria. As the Syrian war intensified, Mahmoud's family became refugees again, moving to a camp in Lebanon. Despite this challenging childhood, he attended Columbia University as a graduate student. He is a legal permanent resident of the United States with a Green Card, which grants most citizenship rights except voting.

The U.S. government lacks legal grounds to detain or deport him. When asked why the Trump Administration seeks to revoke Mahmoud’s Green Card, the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security stated that Mahmoud had “put himself in the middle of pro-Palestinian activities."

Wow. “Pro-Palestinian activity!” Scary stuff. UnAmerican Activities! Real Americans support Genocide, dammit!

               “KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM ALL! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”

To clarify, campus protests do not threaten the United States of America! In reality, “pro-Palestinian activism" poses no danger to anyone. Only those wishing harm to Palestinians feel threatened by pro-Palestinian activity. And those are the people we should be deporting. Let’s start with the man in the Marvel t-shirt who handcuffed Mahmoud and the South African billionaire in the White House who has penetrated the Republican Party.

Three weeks ago, I sent a letter to my mailing list and Substack subscribers titled "Our Muslim Boy Wonder." It told the story of a Syrian student in America who, with a young woman in Wisconsin, had a child who became Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. I warned that this administration’s policies to detain, deport, and separate immigrant families threaten to rob us of future leaders, scientists, doctors, and inventors who will reshape America. We deport them at our peril.

Three days after sending my letter, I was surprised to learn that I had offended Donald Trump, prompting him to instruct the Trump White House to criticize me publicly. He referred to me as a "disgraced ‘filmmaker'"—a term that confounds me since I’m an Eagle Scout and received straight A’s from the nuns. However, the extra quotation marks around 'filmmaker' feel like a cheap shot and could contribute to significant Republican losses in the upcoming Midterms.

Ten days later, the Trump Administration sent their Marvel comic book hero to arrest Mahmoud Khalil.

Since Mahmoud was taken away, universities nationwide have failed to support their students’ rights to free speech and assembly, instead appointing administrators to target activists and protesters on their campuses. Under pressure from the Trump Administration and DOJ investigations into universities using “anti-terrorism” laws, higher education institutions have turned against their students, exposing the intellectual frailty of so-called “thinking.” class.

This situation is widespread and relentless. Each attack by this administration tests public and institutional reactions, which has proven effective. UCLA and Columbia have established panels to investigate students. At Columbia’s prestigious journalism school, administrators instructed students to remove “commentary on the Middle East” from social media. The dean warned, “Nobody can protect you. These are dangerous times.”

Days after detaining Mahmoud Khalil, Trump’s DHS, an architect who attended Harvard and Columbia. Her crime—besides being a woman, an Indian national, and a Fulbright Scholar—was “liking tweets” about “human rights violations in Gaza.” She has fled to Canada.

In another instance, Dr. Rasha Alawieh was denied entry into the United States last Thursday. She possesses an H1-B visa designed for individuals with specialized expertise. Her offense — apart from being a woman and a Muslim — was visiting her family in Lebanon. As for her role, her supervisor at Brown University's organ transplant division describes Dr. Alawieh as a "critical" team member responsible for placing Rhode Island residents on the kidney transplant waiting list. The U.S. government considers her a risk to the American public — yet she is dedicated to saving American lives.

Last week, as nationwide protests grew, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, Democratic members of Congress circulated a letter urging the Trump Administration to “Free Mahmoud.” Ultimately, only 14 out of 262 Democrats in the House and Senate signed it.

The brave fourteen include Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI), Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore (WI), Nydia Velázquez (NY), Delia Ramirez (IL), Ilhan Omar (MN), Jasmine Crockett and Al Green (TX), Summer Lee (PA), Ayanna Pressley and James McGovern (MA), Lateefah Simon (CA), André Carson (IN), and Nikema Williams (GA). A fifteenth member, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, co-signed a letter the day before with three New York City council members.

The rest of the Party? Silent!

But perhaps that’s nothing new.

Fifty-five years ago, Kent State students protested the Vietnam War, resulting in four deaths by the National Guard, and nine others were injured. The crime?

               “Pro-Palestinian activity” or “Pro-Vietnamese activity?"

               I can’t recall. The tune changes, but the song remains—as does the inaction of those who allow it.

               Noor, please know that we, your neighbors from Flint, stand with you and your husband against this immoral act. Silence is not an option.

DAHLIA SCHEINDLIN | WHY ARE SO MANY ISRAELIS STILL PROTESTING AGAINST NETANYAHU AND THE GAZA WAR DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING SENSE OF DESPAIR?

Many unfamiliar with Israel question, 'Why aren't Israelis protesting?' In reality, thousands actively protest against adversities, forming a sustained, diverse movement. This commitment drives their refusal to turn away.

Protesters gather in Tel Aviv to demand an immediate hostage deal. Credit: Florian Goga/Reuters

By Dahlia Scheindlin
Haaretz Israel News
11 March 2025

On Saturday evening, hostage families and supporters camped at Kirya, Israel's defense compound in Tel Aviv, to demand more releases.

Thousands marched around the compound, joined by groups from other parts of Tel Aviv, including those rallying for the attorney general, who is facing government dismissal efforts.

Hundreds slept outside the Kirya's main gate, holding vigils at other entrances. The "Encircle the Kirya" protesters remained all day Sunday, staged a major demonstration that evening, and plan to continue for days.

• 'Freedom has no price': Released hostages demand that the government secure a comprehensive cease-fire agreement.
• Netanyahu's judicial coup is back. It's more megalomaniac than ever
• Netanyahu is to blame for Trump's direct negotiations with Hamas.

Demonstrations urging the government to release hostages immediately have spread across the country in cities, road junctions, and bridges. Few politicians attend, but Democrats Gilad Kariv and Naama Lazimi participate regularly.

It's shocking when outsiders see Israel's catastrophic situation and ask: "Why aren't Israelis protesting?"

Israelis protest weekly, gathering anywhere from tens to hundreds of thousands, with anger and creativity compensating for smaller crowds.

In Tel Aviv on Saturday, demonstrators demanded the release of all remaining hostages from Gaza. Credit: Shir Torem/Reuters

They confront physical intimidation. Last week, family members of hostages from October 7 were assaulted by Knesset security when they demanded a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 failures.

Numerous car-ramming attacks have targeted demonstrations on the highways. The police are employing water cannons, horses, and physical force against protesters, including relatives of hostages. During a demonstration near Kiryat Gat in the south, a released hostage, 72-year-old Adina Moshe, was with other freed women when a bystander shouted, "Whores! Unfortunately, you were freed!"

Insufficient media coverage arises not from a lack of Israeli participation but because demonstrations are so routine they hardly qualify as news. However, a nonstory can evolve. The ongoing protests in Israel for a hostage deal, after nearly a year of pro-democracy demonstrations, are significant.

Who, where, and why? A protest map

In the aftermath of the Hamas attack on October 7, Israeli citizens mobilized in the streets within weeks to advocate for a hostage release and a Palestinian prisoner exchange. During this period, Hamas continued to launch rockets into major cities across the country, frequently multiple times daily. By November 2023, thousands gathered at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square. They pitched tents at the defense compound, and 10,000 protesters marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The new headquarters for hostage families aimed to remain nonpolitical and uncontroversial, hoping the government would heed their call.

Following the late November hostage release, Israelis realized no further agreements would come. Protests surged as many blamed Israeli leadership and Hamas for hindering negotiations.

A protester holds a 'Crime minister' sign during a March protest for hostages' release outside the defense ministry in Tel Aviv. Credit: Jack Guez / AFP

Various protests emerged in late 2023 and early 2024, with small groups gathering in central Tel Aviv, like Habima Square, to demand a cease-fire in the Gaza war. However, these lacked traction, and police effectively banned anti-war demonstrations in Arab towns, severely limiting Jewish-Arab protests as well.

Eventually, another group of citizens gathered at Habima Square. They blamed the failure to reach a hostage deal on the governing coalition's war appetite and Prime Minister Netanyahu's desire to maintain his coalition. This crowd was angrier than the weekly Hostage Square demonstrations, marching from Habima to the Defense Ministry via Kaplan Street.

Their mood mirrored the intense anti-government energy of the Kaplan protests in 2023. The signs and chants echoed similar themes, demanding the release of hostages and expressing anti-government, anti-corruption, and anti-Netanyahu sentiments. Critics of the pro-hostage deal demonstrations accused protesters of "exploiting" the situation to undermine the government, according to a content analysis of social media conversations.

Police deploy water cannon on Tel Aviv protesters. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum

Protesters viewed October 7 and the hostages' situation as justification to oppose the government. They believed that ousting it was the only sane response to its failure. The "official" Hostage Square demonstrations and the Kaplan-to-Kirya marchers on Begin Boulevard are nearby but feel contrasting: one sad, the other noisy and roiling.

Anti-war activists smuggled their messages into the Begin Boulevard protests. "Die, enough, end the war," read one sign in the spring, with the word "die" (meaning "enough" in Hebrew) pointedly written in English. "The full-on right-wing government is full of blood," said another. Still, another sign recalled the original Kaplan protests: "Netanyahu = Shabbetai Zvi on steroids," a nod to the 17th-century false messiah known for his deceit and betrayal of the Jews.

In 2024, anti-war activists staged multiple demonstrations, attracting hundreds to call for a refusal of war. Throughout the year, young activists hosted drumming circles and chants along Kaplan as marchers passed.

Tens of thousands joined the Saturday evening Begin Boulevard demonstrations over the summer. Many people, including me, did double demos: stopping at the earnest but sedate Hostage Square demonstration in solidarity, then unleashing their fury on Begin.

Protesters in Tel Aviv are calling for the release of all hostages. Credit: Shir Torem/Reuters

When Hamas murdered six hostages in late August, the two groups merged. Hundreds of thousands marched in Tel Aviv, lighting bonfires at Likud headquarters and Jerusalem. The Histadrut Labor Federation called for a general strike, but the Tel Aviv Labor Court ruled it "political" and that it must end after a government petition. Weekly, hostage families and bereaved members attend Knesset meetings, shaming lawmakers who ignore their pleas.

Anti-Netanyahu, pro-democracy messages dominate demonstrations. University presidents recently threatened strikes and protests if the government fires Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Bereaved families are advocating for a state inquiry into October 7, with increasingly aggressive messaging: "The Philadelphi corridor is the final solution for the hostages," one sign read in September. Another stated, "Tomatoes cost 22.90 shekels, blood is free," accompanied by gruesome art installations of red paint rivers. This Sunday, "refuse" was spray-painted on the defense compound walls.

Failure, but also achievements

Citing tangible achievements is challenging; however, the list of failures is extensive: 59 hostages remain in Gaza. A New York Times tally shows that 41 hostages have died in the 13 months without a deal. The war continues, with hundreds of Israeli soldiers and tens of thousands of Palestinians lost. Israel's West Bank occupation is effectively annexation, and the government is rapidly advancing Trump-endorsed plans to "choose" to depopulate Gaza.

The government refused to investigate the October 7 disaster, and the assault on Israel's democratic institutions intensified under this extreme right-led administration.

Why are so many Israelis still protesting despite the sense of failure?

Memorial for Oded Lifhsitz and Arielf & Kfir Bibas, Hostage Square, Tel Aviv. Credit: Moti Milrod

One reason is that Israelis aren't alone. In a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace database tracking global protests, 533 of 823 entries since 2017 (62 percent) ended with: "No policy/leadership change in response to the protests." People everywhere need to voice their frustrations and demands publicly despite potential failure.

At the Kirya on Sunday, protesters shared one somber theme: "I just can't allow myself to sit at home – I'd ask myself, 'Where were you when you should have been there?'" said 77-year-old Nurit Limor, a second-generation Holocaust survivor.

Amit Garfinkle, 64, an employee of Israel's electric company, took a day off to travel from his home in the Western Negev to Tel Aviv. He noted that in the South, "People come out of inertia, avoiding guilt for staying home."

A Jerusalem woman in her 30s preferred to remain anonymous. She stated people "can't live with themselves if they don't do something" and praised the diverse group of demonstrators, including Haredim, religious Zionists, Orthodox Jews, and Mizrahim.

But her political views can leave her feeling isolated there: "You can't separate the desire to have the hostages released with what's happening on the other side of the fence," she said, referring to the devastation in Gaza. She called the government's policy one of "transfer and ethnic cleansing" in Gaza and the West Bank and felt a measure of political solidarity at the Tel Aviv protests.

Demonstrators know that hostages' families gain strength from civic support, which many seek. Gil Dickmann, a leading activist whose cousin Carmel Gat was one of six murdered in late August (her mother was also killed on October 7), stressed the public movement’s importance for hostages if and when they access news.

Demonstrators protesting outside the Kirya in Tel Aviv earlier this month. Credit: Jack Guez/AFP

Returned hostages support demonstrations. On Sunday, Emily Damari and Romi Gonen appeared at Hostage Square, still bandaged or in wheelchairs.

Israelis hope their actions influence the government; they claim public outcry was crucial for Netanyahu's hostage release deal in late 2023. A recent survey showed that 60% of Israelis felt public demonstrations and families' pressure considerably or somewhat helped the hostage release; only 41.5% thought the prime minister played a role.

Dickmann noted growing Israeli support for a hostage deal, as right-wingers join more politically open gatherings while provocative ones prevent Israelis from looking away.

He sees the public movement as vital for democracy. "Governments wishing for authoritarian control suggest people have no influence: what you do, think, or pray doesn’t matter. We reject that idea because accepting it makes it true."

The protesters will see no hallelujah. Even if all their demands were granted overnight, too much has already been lost. In a society where democratic values are eroding, the remarkable and sustained civic mobilization – not a mere momentary event but significant and impressive by any standard –may restore democracy in the future.

A LETTER FROM AN AMERICAN

From Heather Cox Richardson
Substack.com
Mar 21, 2025

The Trump administration appears to hastily dismantle the U.S. government while its opponents organize to resist.

Today, the “Department of Government Efficiency” team visited the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which funds libraries and museums nationwide, targeted for elimination by Trump’s recent executive order. They sent employees home, swore in a new acting director, and canceled contracts and grants.

District Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing data at the Social Security Administration and ordered them to destroy any personal information they accessed. “The DOGE Team is engaged in a fishing expedition at SSA, searching for a fraud epidemic based on mere suspicion,” Hollander stated. “They are searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack without any concrete evidence it exists.”

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Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

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Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge promotes understanding, dispels prejudice, and awakens the desire to learn more. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet its misuse can do untold harm, leading to misunderstanding, prejudice, and conflict.

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