Hillel Shalev’s Post

A Closer Look at Israel’s Practices 🔴 In recent years, concerns have arisen regarding the ethical implications of weapon testing, particularly in conflict zones. One prominent example is the utilization of Palestinians by the Israeli occupation army to test weapons and espionage technologies. Nothing new, this has been the practice for new weapons produced by the Israeli military. 🔴 The Israeli military’s practice of using Palestinians as subjects for weapon testing raises profound ethical questions. It underscores the imbalance of power in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Palestinians are not only subjected to military occupation but also used as tools for testing weaponry. 🔴 The narrative of testing weapons in real-life combat situations and then marketing them as battle-proven is troubling. It raises doubts about the true motivations behind weapon development and deployment. Are these weapons truly designed for defensive purposes, or do they serve broader geopolitical agendas? 🔴 Moreover, the exploitation of Palestinians for weapon testing further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the region. It perpetuates a cycle of violence and oppression, where the lives and dignity of Palestinians are continuously disregarded. 🔴 As the international community grapples with issues of arms control and human rights violations, the case of Israel’s weapon testing on Palestinians serves as a stark reminder of the ethical challenges inherent in the development and use of military technology. Credit to: https://lnkd.in/drnsvfdG #freepalestine

The latest findings from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) paint a stark picture of the ongoing conflict’s toll as civilian casualties and infrastructure continue to be targeted by Putin’s forces. #EUToday #StandWithUkraine #HRMMU

What do I mean when I say the Biden Administration has changed its tone on Israel, but has not changed its policies one iota? Consider this submission from Embassy Jerusalem in the required Country Team Assessment (CTA) in support of a pending sale, to be funded by U.S. taxpayer assistance, of 1,000 more bombs for the IDF: "QUESTION 5) The human rights, terrorism, and proliferation record of the proposed recipient and the potential for misuse of the defense articles in question. "RESPONSE 5) None. Israel takes effective action to prevent gross violations of human rights and to hold security forces responsible that violate those rights. In the past, Israel has been a transparent partner in U.S. investigations into allegations of defense article misuse. Israel also actively combats terrorism and is a reliable partner on non-proliferation issues." That's right, the official position of US Embassy Jerusalem in an internal memo is that there is zero risk of misuse of these bombs, that Israel holds itself accountable for human rights violations, and that Israel is a transparent partner in US investigations. All of this is, of course, complete bullshit. The fact that the Security Cooperation Office in Embassy Jerusalem can so blithely type out this nonsense and submit it to Washington indicates that either that the the perspective in our Embassy is misinformed to the point of incompetence, highly politicized at that level, or that inside the Biden Administration writ large there remains no ability to question or substantively oppose arms transfers to Israel. Within this CTA from which the WSJ draws and which I have also seen, there is one element of a response to a question that I cannot disagree with, however: "QUESTION 2) Appropriateness of the proposed sale in responding to legitimate recipient security needs. "RESPONSE 2) This request is appropriate for Israel's response to legitimate security needs. They have purchased these items from the U.S. in the past and are frequent users of the item." Frequent users? Indeed they are, as 30,000 dead in the past months testifies to. Shame on all engaged in this process. https://lnkd.in/eJQbwn6F Non-Paywalled link: https://archive.ph/vz4Qg

NEO Morning Observer: We are hearing conflicting statements. We have been informed through sources that the SDF was told by US officials that there were no plans to withdraw from Syria "anytime soon", this according to a statement posted to Live UA Maps and repeated by Al Hasakah, Al Hasakah Governorate. However, Aimen Jamil is reporting that the US is planning to pull out in the next 90 days. We also know that, after an operational pause, Iranian- linked proxies are resuming their attacks on American positions in Iraq and Syria. As we have opportunity, we will attempt to unwind the confusion. Update: The story of the US troop withdrawals is being forwarded by a single, likely Middle East based, news source. The DoD website currently has no announcements regarding a withdrawal, certainly this would be a major policy shift coming even as many stories on the DoD site point to positive developments since the strikes on Iranian targets throughout the Middle East. It appears that this story is being generated out of a unique thinking that an American withdrawal from the Middle East at present would boost Biden's numbers. It is likely that, while a minority of Biden supports would be happy with such a development, the American public are largely supportive of remaining in the region and not backing down.

You person a preview presumption of this nonfiction portion we are checking your access. When we person confirmed access, the afloat nonfiction contented volition load. The deaths of 3 U.S. work members were the archetypal known fatalities from hostile occurrence since the commencement of Israel’s warfare against Hamas. A outer photograph shows subject outpost known arsenic Tower 22 successful northeast Jordan successful 2023.Credit...Planet Labs PBC/Associated Press Jan. 29, 2024Updated 11:44 a.m. ET The deaths of 3 U.S. soldiers successful a drone onslaught successful Jordan — the first-known American subject fatalities from hostile occurrence successful the widening Middle East situation — are apt to summation unit connected President Biden, who has tried to bounds the American effect successful bid to support determination tensions from spreading further. The Biden medication said that the onslaught astatine a distant subject outpost adjacent the Syrian border — which besides injured 34 different work members — was carried retired by “radical Iran-backed militant groups operating successful Syria and Iraq.” As Mr. Biden warned that the United States would respond, American officials said that the deaths volition necessitate a antithetic level of enactment from what the White House has ordered successful the astir 4 months since Israel’s warfare with Hamas sparked broader turmoil successful the Middle East. What remained unclear was whether Mr. Biden would onslaught targets wrong Iran itself, arsenic his Republican critics urged him to do, with 1 saying helium would beryllium a “coward” if helium did not. A spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, said astatine a quality league connected Monday that the militias “do not instrumentality orders” from Iran and enactment independently to reason “any aggression and occupation.” He said that accusations that Iran had ordered the onslaught were “baseless,” and blamed Israel and the United States for fueling instability successful the region. Thank you for your patience portion we verify access. If you are successful Reader mode delight exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for each of The Times. Thank you for your patience portion we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want each of The Times? Subscribe. #innovation - #management - #technology - #creativity - #futurism - #startups

"Economic aid from the IMF, EU, USAID, and other donors is tied to conditionality in most Ukrainian ministries. But not in defense and security. " - A timely and important reminder of how under-recognised the potential of good governance reforms still is, even in modern defence and security policy. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this report, which once again highlights the urgency and immediacy with which we should be treating good governance reforms in these sectors.

Yet again: "There are very concrete steps each of us can do to help. 1. Please donate to the charity affiliated with the hospital, if you can, so that it could be rebuilt and operational again as soon as possible: https://lnkd.in/eGaHVShr 2. Reach out to your representatives/MPs and demand that Ukraine is given more air defence and F-16s to protect its skies. Push for lifting of the ban on Ukraine's strikes at Russian military targets and missile launching sites. It's the best way to prevent such attacks. 3. Demand justice and accountability for Russia's actions. It cannot blatantly violate international law, bomb children's hospitals and hold the presidency of the UN Security Council at the same time. 4. Russia should pay for the destruction it unleashed in Ukraine. We must continue to insist that all seized Russian assets, not only interest, should be transferred to Ukraine. Russia should know such actions have a price. 5. Last but not least: we must call those who advocate for a ceasefire or immediate peace at the expense of Ukraine for what they are: Russia's enablers. It doesn't make sense to go and talk with a murderous dictator, who one day says he wants to negotiate (meaning Ukraine's capitulation), and the other day bombs a children's hospital." Thank you, Olga Tokariuk See link to the full post about the context in the comments below.

For over a year, we have advocated for the preservation of US$42.4 million in assets seized by Ukraine to support its defense against Russia. In an important development in the case, recently covered by Reuters, the U.S. government filed a brief in the 2nd U.S. Circuit of Appeals siding with our client, Ukraine’s Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF), paving the way for Ukraine to access the funds in question. Our team representing the DGF is led by partner Dennis Tracey and includes senior associates Matthew Ducharme and Peter Bautz. Learn more about this development from Reuters: https://lnkd.in/gvbfkzSG #Appellate #Litigation #Ukraine #Justice #DOJ

Next week could prove pivotal for Ukraine, as U.S. legislators reconvene following the Easter break. One of the most pressing topics for discussion is President Joe Biden’s supplemental request, which includes $61 billion for #Ukraine. Without these funds, U.S. #aid to Ukraine will have de facto halted. Meanwhile, House of Representatives #Speaker Mike #Johnson has indicated a potential willingness to provide weapons to Ukraine on loan. Would this address #Kyiv’s immediate needs? What are the repercussions of delaying this aid? And what are the prospects for its swift approval? I discussed this with Ukrainian #Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova. https://lnkd.in/eHnr8mDF