Zimmerman is a left Zionist of the J Street tradition who opposes Israel’s occupation & actively opposed the carnage in Gaza in 2014. She is also untypically willing to engage in debate with BDS activists. So if Sanders is going to play both sides of the street to get the nomination, Zimmerman is a good person to have on staff.

But only two days after her appointment was announced, Zimmerman was suspended by the Sanders campaign because the Washington Free Beacon, a sketchy news website, unearthed a FB post she wrote in March 2015 that was critical of Netanyahu. She wrote: “Bibi Netanyahu is an arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative asshole. He is the embodiment of the ugliest national hubris & tone-deafness towards the international community….Fuck you, Bibi, for daring to insist that you legitimately represent even a fraction of the Jews in this world.” She went on to say he “sanctioned the murder of over 2,000 people.” She later edited out a few of the expletives & vulgarities though it wasn’t those which offended Zionists but her critical views of Bibi-ass.

The appointment of Zimmerman brought out the big guns of the US Zionist establishment, including Abe Foxman, formerly a hot shot in the Anti-Defamation League, & Ronald S. Lauder, head of the Estee Lauder cosmetic company (a target of BDS) & president of the World Jewish Congress (one of the biggest & most influential Zionist groups in the world)–who both called on Sanders to fire her.

This fiasco illustrates the Catch-22 of lesser evil politics. As the crisis of modern capitalism deepens & broadens, as the crisis of leadership becomes more acute for the ruling elite & more importantly for working people, it isn’t possible to play both sides of the street if you want to serve justice & social transformation. Principled, uncompromising politics are required for that.

Photo is Sanders trying to sweat out his contradictions.

(Photo from AP)

Stone is a Buddhist (of sorts) but her 13-year-old son conducted his bar mitzva at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. She may feign some sort of emotional attachment to Israel but in most cases you scratch that sentimentality stuff & you find money-grubbing or rightwing commitments. It’s almost an iron law of rotten politics.

Photo is obligatory photo op with Shimon Peres from Stone’s 2006 visit to Israel.

(Photo from Maan News by Moti Milrod)

14 April 2016

Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society has been approached by the family of the minor girl in the Handwara sexual assault case for legal counsel and other support.

On 12 April 2016, a minor girl (aged 16) from Handwara had, as per reports, accused army personnel of sexual assault. Four persons have been killed to date by armed forces personnel following protests. On the same day, a video was released of the minor girl exonerating the armed forces of sexual assault. The identity of the victim is revealed through this video that appears to have been recorded by the police and then widely circulated by army and Indian media. The family of the girl state that she has been kept in police custody from 12 April to date. Last night, around 1 am, the father of the victim was called to the Handwara police station. He was accompanied by his brother. Since then his whereabouts are not known. The family has been denied access to both the minor girl and her father.

The detention of the minor girl and her father are outside the powers of the State and appears to be an attempt to further pressurize the family to withdraw all allegations against the armed forces. Further, the manner in which the video has been recorded and then circulated is a gross violation of the special protections afforded to minors particularly during investigation of sexual assault cases. The actions of the police and the army would necessarily invite criminal prosecution if investigated.

The family of the victim has appealed for immediate release of the minor girl and the father of the victim and has sought legal assistance. The State under the garb of law and order is ensuring that all access to the family of the victim is denied so as to ensure protection to the armed forces personnel and seek to further distract from the crimes that have been committed – from the sexual assault to the killings. Any suggestion that the State is seeking to “protect”’ the minor girl and family must be rejected in the circumstances of this case and the actions of the police. Any protection, if necessary, must be provided at the residence of the victim and not at the police station.

The minor girl and her father must be immediately released and allowed access to legal counsel. Government of Jammu and Kashmir must allow immediate and unhindered access for the legal counsel team of JKCCS to the victim and her family.

Spokesperson
Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society

The treacherous Oslo Accords sectioned the West Bank into three administrative areas, Areas A, B, & C, depending on the measure of Israeli control. This playground is in Area A, which is supposed to be under full civil & security control by the Palestinian Authority. Why does Israel have any say at all about what can & cannot be built on Palestinian territory?

It should be mentioned that media is so damn sloppy that this park could be in Za’tara, a village near Bethlehem (57 km/35 miles away from Nablus) in Area C which Israel claims complete control over & where Israel is bulldozing homes under the pretext of construction without permit. Of course, it’s impossible to distinguish between Areas A, B, & C because the occupation is so ubiquitous & the Oslo Accords such a massive betrayal of Palestinian self-determination.

Build & honor the economic, cultural, & academic boycott of Israel. Buy nothing with barcode beginning 729.

(Photo by Majdi MohammedAP)