Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

EDITORIAL | Are World Leaders Dumb, Stupid, Sociopaths, or Psychopaths, or All of the Above?

By Abraham A. van Kempen
23 May 2025

While some might be incorrigible con artists, the Euro-world leaders I know are buffoons. Just observe the jokers in major European capitals like Brussels and London, along with the clowns in places like Washington, D.C., Kyiv, and Moscow. They think they’re hot, including the village idiot, no longer worthy of naming.

Can anyone explain how any of those bozos in their right minds believe that they could expand NATO into Mother Russia through Ukraine?

As I compose this editorial, there are still those who insist that the Russian Federation – the largest country in Europe and the world – should be divided into several regions, that the ‘opposition’ is becoming more Europeanized and will align with NATO, and that the current Kremlin will be dethroned and overthrown indefinitely as though we’re in 1917.

Furthermore, these fools expect us to believe that the Russian Federation plans to aggressively expand westward while NATO has already succeeded in moving eastward, right into Russia’s backyard, Ukraine. Who deserves peace? Indeed, the people of Ukraine do. For too long, European leadership has exploited Ukraine’s youth as cannon fodder to serve Eurocentric interests. The West couldn’t care less as long as their own aren’t dying in a war that never needed to erupt.

Of course, everyone knows why the EU provoked the war and why President Putin didn’t need to respond with a premature attack and invasion. In case you’re wondering, tune in next week. I know a bit more about Europe than most people. I’m more European than most. I am British and Dutch, holding a dual nationality. But now, I would like to discuss the Middle East, the region where I was born.

Have you noticed? Qatar is gifting the United States a Boeing 747! This is unprecedented. It's one thing to give a plane, but to accept it from an Arab nation is remarkable. The royal aircraft will serve as the President’s Air Force One. WOW! Furthermore, the President of the United States has sidelined Israel, which was notably excluded from his travel itinerary—a triple WOW. What’s more, the Europeans, together with their Coalition of the Willing, have recently started to vilify Israel for being so ruthless, cruel, and inhumane. Israel? (What about the others who aid and abet Israel’s atrocities?) No comment!

What’s so obvious behind the scenes, the elephants in the room? Iran! The EU does not want Israel to wage war against Iran. Iran is liable to bomb the entire Gulf and Israel into the Stone Age, meaning there won’t be a drop of oil left for oil-poor Europe. You think the EU cares about Palestinians or Israelis? Iran doesn’t. The mullahs only care about the mullahs. They’re ready.

Until next week!

EUROPE'S DECLINING ECONOMY, SECURITY, AND COMMON SENSE

Prof. Glenn Diesen with Prof. Jeffrey Sachs

Watch the Video Here (27 minutes, 13 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
19 May 2025

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs addresses Europe's lack of strategic thinking and its failure to adapt to reality. Europeans believe they are defending Ukraine, labeling any dissenting views as capitulation to Russia. Consequently, Europe intensifies its ineffective strategies despite facing defeat in the conflict.

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

ANALYSIS | TRUMP'S CHOICE: END THE WAR IN GAZA OR LET ISRAEL'S FAR RIGHT DESTROY IT

Both the U.S. and other mediators are hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the war. However, with Netanyahu hesitant to participate in meaningful discussions, there’s a concern that the Doha negotiations might not reach a successful outcome. Europe is beginning to recognize that this could be our last chance to tackle the most significant ethnic cleansing of our era.

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi with Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R). Credit: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

By Chaim Levinson

Haaretz | Israel News
21 May 2025

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

In the next day or two, U.S. President Donald Trump and aide Steve Witkoff must decide: confront Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to force a cease-fire and end the war, or allow Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to carry out his plan to destroy Gaza. The diplomatic situation is boiling over with little time left.

As of Tuesday afternoon, negotiations in Doha have failed, with both sides maintaining their positions. Hamas demands the release of all hostages in exchange for prisoners, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and an end to the war. Israel, as Netanyahu stated on camera to sabotage negotiations, seeks to receive some hostages now and continue the war later. However, Hamas recognizes that Netanyahu's plan is only partial, obvious, and predictable.

• Is Netanyahu preparing to bow to mounting U.S. pressure for a Gaza cease-fire?
• Detailing captivity horrors, freed hostage Arbel Yehoud urges Israeli MKs to end the Gaza war.
• 'Humiliating that key to freeing hostages has always been in the White House, not Jerusalem'

During the Doha negotiations, there was a fleeting illusion of change when the team agreed to discuss ending the war. However, these discussions proved unproductive as both sides entrenched their positions. Israel has demands it views as preconditions, unwilling to discuss nuances: Demilitarizing Gaza and exiling Hamas leaders. How many? Where? What's the definition of demilitarization? What security mechanisms?

They're unwilling to discuss these issues until later. The hostages don't interest Netanyahu much. As mentioned this week on the pro-government Channel 14, this is a tragedy of 20 people, not a national issue, unlike the demonstration outside a beauty salon. (In March 2023, Netanyahu's wife criticized protesters outside a Tel Aviv salon where she was having her hair done.)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in April. Credit: Abir Sultan/Reuters

Qatari intermediaries eager for peace are pressuring Hamas to accept a partial deal in exchange for a public declaration by the U.S. president, indicating it as a step towards ending the war. Hamas disagrees, demanding a written U.S. promise to Qatar with penalties for Israel if it violates the agreement.

Currently, Americans refuse to provide Qatar a formal document, offering only an oral promise. At Tuesday's Economic Forum in Doha with Bloomberg, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani accused Israel of complicating negotiations for political reasons.

The return of the Israeli delegation depends on the Americans. The White House's stance on Israel has shifted in the past month as Trump grows frustrated with the war, which hampers his Gulf plans and Nobel Peace Prize ambitions.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani gestures beside President Donald Trump at Al Udeid Air Base, Doha. Credit: Alex Brandon, AP

In discussions with hostages' families, briefings to senators, and talks with Gulf counterparts, White House staff express a desire to end the war. However, Trump has not taken the necessary steps to do so and remains indecisive, hoping the sides will resolve their differences independently.

The Gulf states are urging Trump to reveal his plan for ending the war, one that restrains both Hamas and Israel. While the plan has nuances, all agree Hamas must not stay in power in Gaza, meaning Israel's primary demand is acknowledged, allowing it to see itself as the winner of this round. The Emirati foreign minister, interviewed last week on Fox News, confirmed this stance is aligned with the United Arab Emirates and coordinated with other nations; Hamas will not get support for any alternate position.

As Trump considers how to save negotiations, an alliance of Canada, the U.K., and France is forming to end the war. Although their power does not match that of the U.S., they possess economic influence and can rally many countries into a united front.

An Israeli strike in eastern Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday. Credit: Bashar Taleb/AFP

Smotrich's declaration about destroying all of Gaza, pushing the inhabitants southward, and starving them to the point of one pita and one hot meal a day until they're deported from Gaza has ignited European countries, which understand that this is the time to stop the most extensive ethnic cleansing of our time.

The British drive the militant policy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer won't settle for diplomatic statements and disputes on X. He aims to impose sanctions on Israel's economy and notable figures to end the war. Israel stands alone, with no allies except Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. All that remains is our Father in heaven and Trump's actions in the coming days.

NETANYAHU’S FOREVER WAR IS KILLING ISRAEL FASTER THAN ITS ENEMIES

The PM's goal of ‘total victory’ is impossible, regardless of American support.

US President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. © Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

By Robert Inlakesh, a political analyst, journalist, and documentary filmmaker currently based in London, UK. He has reported from and lived in the Palestinian territories and works presently with Quds News. Director of ‘Steal of the Century: Trump's Palestine-Israel Catastrophe’.

@falasteen47

HomeWorld News
21 May 2025

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in a difficult situation where he must choose between relinquishing his power or pulling his entire country down with him. Over the past 18 months, Israel has been unable to conquer any foes, and an escalation in Gaza may prove to be the most perilous choice it has made to date.

Despite the Israeli prime minister's insistence on continuing the war in Gaza and his pledge to “crush and destroy” Hamas, his victory claims remain unsubstantiated, according to his nation’s intelligence. Netanyahu has now announced a new military operation in the Gaza Strip, named “Gideon’s Chariots,” aimed at re-occupying the besieged territory.

Just before this, the US brokered a historic direct deal with Hamas to release an Israeli-American dual national, Idan Alexander, a soldier who had been taken as a prisoner of war on October 7, 2023. In return, Hamas says they were informed that the US was going to pressure Israel to allow in humanitarian aid to Gaza after an eight-week total blockade.

Rather than allowing humanitarian aid to flow in, Israel chose to escalate its bombing campaign, which has displaced over 300,000 Palestinians and resulted in the loss of around 300 lives in just 48 hours. Following this, Israeli PM Netanyahu shared his thoughts publicly, mentioning that even if all the captives held in Gaza are returned, he does not plan to end the war.

Before President Trump’s trip to the Arabian Peninsula last week, stories emerged in the Israeli and international press about a brewing feud between Netanyahu and the American leader.

Read more
Are US-Israel’s special relations about to end?

So the narrative went, anonymous sources claimed that Trump had cut off direct communication with his Israeli counterpart, and that he was snubbing Netanyahu by not visiting Israel during his trip to the region, and even that he was going to recognize a Palestinian State.

Trump denied a schism with Netanyahu in a Fox News interview, claiming October 7, 2023, was one of history's most violent days—an assertion that is, by any standard, ridiculous.

This Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with CBS News, emphasizing that the US backs the elimination of Hamas while also aiming for a resolution to free additional Israeli captives. Rubio's remarks suggest that he aligns with Israel's viewpoint, indicating that the conflict will continue until Hamas is defeated; in essence, the Israeli soldiers captured in Gaza are not the cause of the war.

Anonymous claims of the US president opposing Israel are not new. In December 2023, former President Joe Biden allegedly shouted at Netanyahu and hung up the phone, according to unnamed sources. Reports continued about Biden's supposed threats to the Israeli government. In October 2024, Bob Woodward's book ‘War’ claimed Biden called Netanyahu a “bad f***ing guy” and a “f***ing liar.”

An April Israeli Channel 13 investigative report revealed that the Biden administration, which US media described as "working tirelessly" for a ceasefire in Gaza, never pressured Israel to implement one.

If the US told Israel to stop its war on Gaza, it would end tomorrow. It won’t. Every senior Trump official supports Israel and has accepted money from pro-Israel groups, while the Republican President’s campaign was funded by Israel’s wealthiest billionaire, Miriam Adelson.

Read more
Recognizing Palestine could be one of Trump’s most pro-Israel moves yet.

Donald Trump negotiates settlements with big claims. He often takes a breakthrough stance on an issue, then reverts to the same positions as the Biden administration just a day later.

On the other hand, it seems that the Israeli prime minister may have made a misstep by deciding to go against the US-supported ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He did this by choosing the issue of blocking humanitarian aid as a focal point for his stance.

Despite the Israeli military's strong rhetoric, their ground forces are fatigued, ill-trained, and lacking motivation, making it difficult to mobilize sufficient troops for primary operations without risking vulnerability elsewhere in Israel.

The Israeli army has stayed in Gaza's buffer zones as political leaders decided to punish 2 million civilians collectively. Netanyahu pledged to block all food, water, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza. Over 80 days have passed since the decision was made.

This blatant war crime has provoked significant international backlash, even forcing the US to publicly state it is working on getting aid into Gaza. However, Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition allies from the Religious Zionism Bloc threaten to leave the government if he allows food to reach Palestinian civilians.

A show had to be staged, convincing Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that their prime minister has lost favor with Donald Trump, the most popular political figure among Israelis. This led the Israeli public to believe significant pressure was placed on Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire.

What will Netanyahu do now? He launches a military operation against Gaza, knowing it will target civilians and infrastructure, with limited incursions also occurring. Meanwhile, he appears to reject a ceasefire from the US, while aid trucks slowly enter Gaza without triggering backlash.

Read more
Israel approves complete ‘conquest’ of Gaza – media.

Benjamin Netanyahu aims to confront all of Israel’s enemies, prioritizing Iran. After 18 months of a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, European nations are shifting their stance on the starvation policy, now coupled with a renewed ground offensive.

Gaza's predicament is linked to other fronts. The war with Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, as Israel currently bombards Lebanese territory. While Western officials claim Hezbollah has been defeated, the reality is different; the group has energized its base since last September, resembling a resurgence not seen since the early 2000s.

In Yemen, the US was defeated by Ansarallah (the Houthis), despite significant disparities. Washington conceded that anything short of a ground invasion would fail to deter the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) from fighting Israel.

The war will likely end with a confrontation between Iran and Israel. The US probably won't engage in total war with Iran, knowing the significant risk to its troops and allies. Thus, the conflict is expected to remain controlled. The substantial investments from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE were made with security expectations in mind.

Facing a dead end in Gaza, the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu has only one option for escalation: striking the Iranian nuclear program.

Iranian air defenses remain intact, contrary to claims by Washington think tanks and Israeli leaders about the last attack's effectiveness. This doesn’t imply that Israel cannot target nuclear sites—they can. If conventional weapons are used, it may delay the program by a few years.

Read more
Israel strikes ‘dozens of targets’ in Yemen (VIDEOS)

Suppose the Israeli attack is limited and the US plays a support role. In that case, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will likely limit its strikes to military sites and possibly infrastructure like the power grid or ports. This would ground or degrade the Israeli air force, allowing Hezbollah to liberate southern Lebanon from occupation and restore its prestige after recent tactical losses.

The big question mark is the armed groups in the Gaza Strip. If Israel must focus its ground forces in the north and its air force isn't fully operational, Hamas may take actions others wouldn't.

Considering this scenario, Israel and the US might launch a battle against Iran to close all fronts, but two major issues hinder this: Netanyahu’s desire to stay in power and the situation in Gaza.

Israel plans to militarize and privatize aid distribution to Gaza’s civilians, opposed by the United Nations and rights groups. They may see this as a step towards ethnically cleansing Palestinians from the coastal territory, but Egypt and neighboring nations reject this option.

The idea of Israeli forces occupying Gaza internally seems incredible; discussing it appears pointless. Israel has avoided fighting the Palestinian armed factions, keeping soldier casualties low and leaving all groups undefeated. Minor factions, such as the Salah al-Deen Brigades, Mujahideen Brigades, and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, remain active.

Read more
Trump pushes for ‘total dismantlement’ of Iran’s nuclear program.

The Israeli prime minister's goal of "total victory" is unattainable. Continuing his current approach may lead to escalations that result in total defeat.

Traumatized and frustrated, millions across the region long for revenge. Unexpected developments in the West Bank, Syria, East Jerusalem, or within divided Israeli society could spell disaster for Netanyahu.

Despite numerous vulnerabilities not mentioned here, the US gives Israeli allies carte blanche for aggression. Washington is not a friend of Israel; it acts as its hype man, supplying endless bombs without considering the potential for escalation. This mindset led to the US and Israel being caught off guard on October 7, 2023, but now the stakes are much higher.

FYODOR LUKYANOV: TRUMP MOVES TOWARD MOSCOW’S VIEW ON UKRAINE TALKS

With Washington leaning toward bilateral diplomacy, Brussels risks becoming an irrelevant and obstructive actor.

US President Donald Trump. © Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

By Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

Russia in Global Affairs (RGA) on Telegram

HomeRussia & FSU
21 May 2025

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

The recent dialogue between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has shed light on the evolving diplomatic framework concerning Ukraine. What we are observing resembles the initial act of a play, with roles being assigned in what could be the next chapter of the conflict’s development.

Trump aligns with Russia’s proposal: direct dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv, with the U.S. as arbiter to ensure Ukraine’s reliability. Western Europe is excluded, seen as a destructive actor in denial about its role in the conflict.

Kyiv and the EU capitals' response is justifiable. They envision a "collective Ukraine" with Kyiv, Brussels, and Washington, which shows unity against Moscow, manages sanctions, and lays the groundwork for negotiations. Trump, however, is increasingly self-assured in dismissing this joint pressure.

Currently, potential negotiations are secondary. Trump’s priority is the appearance of movement. For him, optics matter more than outcomes, and Putin, understanding the performance's rhythm, is skillfully playing along.

Excluding Western Europe serves Moscow’s interests. Kyiv recognizes that the bloc’s role is obstructive, offering no leverage and merely providing rhetorical posturing that undermines dialogue.

The key question is whether this allocation of roles will remain in place. If it does, a new diplomatic phase could begin—Moscow and Washington shaping the conversation, Kyiv adjusting to a diminished role, and Western Europe relegated to the audience.

Kommersant first published this article and was later edited by the RT team.

GUEST EDITORIAL | WHY ISRAEL IS SO DETERMINED TO KEEP THE WORLD'S MEDIA OUT OF GAZA

Israel has closed off the Gaza Strip to foreign journalists, blinding the global public and fueling misinformation while constantly inciting against, and sometimes targeting, local Palestinian reporters. It is now running out of excuses for this authoritarian policy.

Mourners at the funeral of Palestinian journalist Hassan Aslih, killed in an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis last week. Israel accused Aslih of working with Hamas. Credit: Hatem Khaled/Reuters.

By Dahlia Scheindlin
Haaretz | Israel News
21 May 2025

Annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

As Israel expands the war, a fierce battle for information rages alongside gunfire. Is there famine in Gaza? Does Hamas steal humanitarian aid? Were the aid workers shot by the IDF in March near Rafah, then buried with their vehicles, murdered in cold blood? Is Israel "killing babies as a hobby," as Yair Golan, head of the Democrats party, said on Tuesday?

The only way to answer these questions in real time is for media professionals to witness and investigate the war independently. Since Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has not allowed foreign journalists into Gaza, except for Israeli journalists who can spend a few hours embedded with the Israeli army.

Foreign journalists have collaborated with local Palestinian journalists and freelance reporters in Gaza to gather information, footage, and stories, while also utilizing remote reporting. Permissions to enter with the IDF have been granted in limited and non-transparent ways, according to foreign correspondents in Israel.

• There is no justification for taking hostages. There is no justification for killing kids.
• When even Piers Morgan condemns Netanyahu's 'shameful' war, Israel has a problem.
• Israel must allow journalists into Gaza to report freely and independently.

Being shut out removes the foundation from a story, creating a serious barrier to firsthand reporting and long-term investigations, particularly for smaller outlets and freelance journalists lacking resources for local staff in Gaza. A correspondent or bureau chief holds ultimate responsibility for their stories, but they can't "go there," as stated by CNN. This complicates navigating the competing claims and counterclaims in a war that is filled with both.

A Chinese journalist reports on the Gaza war from southern Israel in December 2023. Credit: Jack Guez / AFP

In late 2023, the Foreign Press Association in Israel petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court against the Defense Minister and military officials. In January 2024, the court rejected the petition, upholding the state's stance that allowing journalists to pose security risks to them, the troops, and the war effort.

In fall 2024, the FPA filed a new petition, joined by the Union of Journalists in Israel as an amicus curiae. The High Court has repeatedly postponed hearing dates, including this Sunday, the sixth time.

Genuine wartime dilemmas

In late 2023, the state responded to the first FPA petition by arguing that the only entry point into Gaza for individuals was the destroyed Erez crossing, which needed rebuilding after Hamas' October 7 attack; the army lacked the necessary human and economic resources.

Furthermore, the state argued that journalists roaming freely in Gaza could endanger themselves, the troops, and the war effort. They might inadvertently reveal the positions of IDF forces, putting them at risk. The Court accepted all of these arguments in its rejection of the FPA's petition.

In January 2024, the justices supported press freedom, noting the army's balance by letting journalists accompany the IDF. However, these short forays differ from the longer-term embedding practice seen in the 2003 Iraq war.

A protester with a mock camera around her neck carries photos of journalists who have died working in Gaza, during the annual Al-Quds Day rally in Karachi, Pakistan, in March. Credit: Fareed Khan / AP

The wartime dilemma of protecting the media while fighting Hamas is profound: If militants in Gaza fire at Israel or Israeli forces near media installations (or schools or hospitals), it either limits the IDF's actions or, if not, Israel faces blame for casualties among media personnel.

Information flows from Gaza as Palestinian journalists report to millions through Al Jazeera and other international networks. Clarissa Ward of CNN entered Gaza once in December 2023 without IDF approval. Foreign media outlets have demanded that Egypt allow journalists entry through Rafah, which has been closed to them for over a decade.

Vacuum of information and ulterior motives

A key missing pillar of credible information is independent foreign media coverage, while informal documentation floods social media. Audiences scramble to discern credibility, often driven by pre-existing political beliefs. Some seek to augment the news in good faith, but few can verify every video. Most of us have been misled by malicious misinformation that undermines our belief in truth.

Relying solely on Palestinian journalists in Gaza is inadequate. In an article for Haaretz, three board members of the FPA from CNN, AP, and Deutsche Welle praised their Palestinian colleagues' "heroic" efforts, noting the "inconceivable dangers and hardships" they face to convey the reality. They emphasized that these journalists cannot cover this war alone, as their capacity is being stretched beyond feasibility.

Dangers include immediate threats to lives. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates 180 journalists killed since the war began (including Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon) up to May, while Reporters Without Borders estimates close to 200 killed in Gaza, mostly by Israeli forces.

CPJ published a report on Hamas repression and intimidation of Gaza media, highlighting the need for foreign correspondents.

Palestinian journalists carry the body of Hassan Aslih at his funeral procession in southern Gaza. Aslih was killed in an Israeli strike on the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.Credit: Eyad Baba / AFP

This figure highlights the political assault on truth. Israel often claims Hamas and Al Jazeera are linked and has banned Al Jazeera from operating in the country, despite workarounds. Many Israelis see Palestinian journalists as terror propagandists or terrorists; earlier this month, the IDF killed Hassan Aslih, claiming he had joined terrorists during the October 7 attack.

If some claims are valid, better outside media coverage would be a way to investigate. This applies to most of Israel's claims about Hamas: using hospitals, schools, and UN facilities, stealing aid, or recruiting civilians in popular Israeli imagination.

Specific incidents haunt memories: The mid-October 2023 explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza initially seemed an Israeli strike killing over 300, but Human Rights Watch later suggested it was likely Palestinian fire, with casualties probably lower than reported. More firsthand foreign media coverage could have uncovered the truth more quickly.

Aftermath of the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital, November 2023. Credit: Stringer/Reuters

Israel continues to ban their entry, claiming foreign media coverage is anti-Israel. This suggests Israel's media policy focuses less on defending itself and more on undermining the credibility of Palestinian sources.

Conspiratorial thinking is often unhelpful and inaccurate; however, the policy creates an appearance of bad faith in engineering the truth, suggesting Israel has something to hide.

The bad look seems obvious to outside observers, but attitudes within Israel are much darker. Constant incitement against Palestinian media as terrorists justifies their deaths, either as collateral damage or in targeted attacks. Israelis, who are just starting to acknowledge the dead children in Gaza, have raised no protest about the killing of Palestinian journalists.

Just do it

The excuses for banning foreign journalists have expired. The High Court's early 2024 decision noted that if the security situation changed, the journalists might have a stronger claim. The Israeli Union of Journalists' amicus brief, filed eleven months into the war, argued that the situation had improved and it was safer to operate – there was also "no end in sight," wrote the Union.

Journalists covering war risk their lives, taking precautions alongside their employers. Better coordination solutions with the army exist than a blanket ban on independent reporting. The situation in Gaza has worsened after three months of a humanitarian aid siege, mass displacement, bombing campaigns last week, and the start of a more punishing military phase.

No international media can portray this war of destruction favorably, as Israel hopes, yet prohibiting foreign media will never erase the truth. This primarily conditions Israel to embrace authoritarian governance, resulting in reduced freedoms, diminished facts, and a loss of humanity.

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

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

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're in search of the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

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

Accurate knowledge fosters understanding, dispels prejudice, and sparks a desire to learn more about the subject. 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 cause untold harm, leading to misunderstandings, prejudices, and conflicts.

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