Category World News

Does anti-Zionism necessarily lead to anti-Semitism?

Some claim to be anti-Semitic because of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Since Israel started its war on Gaza, there have been more reports of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the world.

Some people who have criticized Israel for its actions in Gaza claim that they are labelled as anti-Semitic despite not using any of these terms.

Israeli authorities have compared the Hamas-led attacks’ October 7th response to being anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist in particular.

According to analysts, obliquely separating the two aids in exposing Israel’s policy opposition or rejection.

Israel is accused of using the two terms to justify its attacks on Gaza and other Palestinian areas.

What are the risks and the effects of confusing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the Middle East, with no apparent end in sight?

Presenter: Nick Clark

Guests:

Giovanni Fassina, Executive Director of the European Legal Support Center

Arielle Angel – Editor-in-chief of Jewish Currents

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant cancels Pentagon visit

As the region prepares for Israel’s anticipated response to Iran’s missile attack last week, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has canceled plans to meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Gallant had called off his visit, according to a Pentagon spokesman who confirmed it on Tuesday.

According to reports that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled the trip until he received a “phone call” from President Joe Biden and that the Israeli cabinet had approved the Iranian response, the Pentagon refrained from commenting on the reports.

“I am going to stay out of Israeli politics”, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters at a news briefing. “I wouldn’t read too much into it”.

Austin and Gallant have a “great relationship”, Singh added, and have spoken more than 80 times. “You can have frank, … direct conversations with your friends, you’re not always going to agree on everything but that doesn’t mean that there’s tensions”, she said.

A trip to Israel was postponed by Austin as a result of Israel’s increased attacks on Lebanon last month.

Before that escalation, Israeli media had widely reported that Netanyahu was preparing to fire Gallant, with whom he has long had a tense relationship. Before reversing its course in response to intense public pressure, Netanyahu had already fired the defense minister in 2023.

In addition to stating that “they have a right to respond but they should respond proportionally,” Biden has previously stated that the US would not support an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Last week, Israeli officials told their American counterparts that they were still working out the plans for a response. Israel has not yet provided more specific information about the plans, according to a report released on Tuesday by NBC News.

Austin only learned about the operation after speaking with Gallant about it on a phone call, which was not made public about the Israeli attack that had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in May.

France, Qatar deliver urgent aid to Lebanon, French foreign minister says

As Paris presses for more extensive humanitarian efforts and a ceasefire in the country, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that Qatar and France had delivered urgent humanitarian aid to Lebanon.

“If we don’t do anything, then Lebanon tomorrow could resemble what Syria has become”, Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers in parliament.

A major migration of civilians seeking refuge in Europe originates in that country, which is a hub of instability for smuggling, terrorism, and terrorism.

French and Qatari military planes delivered some 27 metric tonnes of medicines and necessities, including blankets and hygiene kits, diplomatic sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Paris and the United States have long worked together to try to avert a ceasefire in the Middle East nation. It has historical ties to Lebanon.

At the end of September, Israel’s heavy bombings of Beirut’s southern suburbs caused the talks to stall, killing Hezbollah’s long-standing leader Hassan Nasrallah. Since then, it has launched a ground invasion that has forced thousands of people to relocate.

Tuesday’s Franco-Qatari aid aims to support local aid groups to help the wounded and displaced.

According to Barrot, the two parties must accept the ceasefire proposal in order to “achieve peace and negotiations a chance to guarantee the security of Israel and the sovereignty of Lebanon.”

Israel’s Netanyahu warns Lebanon could face destruction ‘like Gaza’

Netanyahu, the leader of Israel, claimed Israel had killed Hezbollah’s “replacement” and that Lebanon could face destruction “like Gaza” when he warned that the country might be a “replacement of his replacement.”

Netanyahu made the remarks in a video message that was sent to Lebanese citizens on Tuesday, in which he also claimed that Hezbollah is “weaker than it has been for many, many years.”

Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah commander, was previously said to be the leader of Nasrallah, and was due to die in an airstrike in Beirut last week, but his fate is still undetermined.

There has been no comment from the Lebanese armed group yet on Netanyahu’s latest remarks.

In his address, Netanyahu referred to the besieged enclave, which has been the subject of a year-long, bloody Israeli bombardment campaign. “You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will cause destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.

Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza has devastated the territory and killed at least 41, 965 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced at least once.

Netanyahu’s stark warning came as the Israeli military deployed more troops to Lebanon and ordered people in southern coastal areas, and in areas of the capital Beirut’s southern suburbs, to evacuate.

Hezbollah earlier said it fired rockets at the Israeli port city of Haifa, its biggest-yet rocket barrage&nbsp, at the area, after the Israeli military reported 85 projectiles crossing from Lebanon.

Israel’s military presence in Lebanon increased almost a year after Hezbollah and it started scheming. The Lebanese organization claims that Gaza’s Palestinians are supported by its strikes.

Israel has promised to secure its northern border with Lebanon so that tens of thousands of Israelis can live there and rebuild their towns and settlements.

Hezbollah’s Qassem ‘ calm ‘ and ‘ in control ‘

Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza, both of which have pledged to stand up for Israel, and Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said the group would make it impossible for Israelis to cross the border on Tuesday.

At least 1, 473 people have died as a result of Israel’s series of strikes against Hezbollah-held areas in Lebanon on September 23.

More than a million people have fled and the country’s healthcare system has been severely impacted by Israeli attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as southern and central Beirut.

While Lebanon’s coast has not been spared, Israel’s latest evacuation warning suggests it is extending its offensive northwards.

On its Telegram channel, the Israeli military said its 146th Division began “limited, localised, targeted operational activities” against what it claimed are Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader said despite Israel’s “painful” strikes, the group’s leadership structure was in order and its military capabilities were “fine”.

“Netanyahu says he wants to bring back” the displaced to their homes in northern Israel, Qassem said.

But “we say that many more residents will be forced to flee” their homes, he warned.

Elijah Magnier, a military and security analyst, claimed that Qassem has assumed control of the organization and has become “the spokesperson of Hezbollah.”

“He made his second appearance after the initial start of the Lebanon war.” He is appearing more confident, he’s more calm, he’s in control”, Magnier told Al Jazeera.

“He is not saying, ‘ I am the new secretary-general ‘ because there is going to be an election]but] it’s not going to happen soon because there is no need”.

Match time, team news, form: India vs Sri Lanka – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

Who: India vs Sri Lanka
What: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Group A match
When: Wednesday, October 9, 6pm (14:00 GMT)
Where: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
How to follow: Al Jazeera’s live text coverage begins at 11:00 GMT

When India take on Sri Lanka in their third group match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday, the talisman captain Chamari Athapaththu believes her team have nothing to lose.

Athapaththu’s side have lost both their matches, against Pakistan and Australia, and are all but out of contention for the semifinals with two games to go.

They will remain mathematically alive in the tournament if they win, but a loss will set them free.

“We have to get things done]tomorrow]”, Athapaththu said in her pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old all-rounder claimed it was her responsibility to take the lead from the beginning and claimed the country’s poor results were a result of her efforts.

“I couldn’t give the team the momentum]as an opening batter] in past two matches and my failure has a huge effect on the team”, she said.

In the shortest format of cricket, low-scoring matches have been produced in the UAE thanks to the conditions and pitches. Even though the tracks were challenging, Athapaththu claimed that her team had to face the challenge, just like other elite athletes have done so far.

In their most recent encounter in July, when Athapaththu led her team to a historic victory in the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka won.

She expressed hope that her younger teammates won’t struggle under pressure and that Sri Lankan fans will continue to show up in large numbers to support their team.

“The team that will handle that pressure will win the match tomorrow”, she said.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain, has been declared fit to lead her team against Sri Lanka despite a late injury suffered on Sunday. Kaur was calm under pressure in the close victory over Pakistan.

Kaur’s deputy, Smriti Mandhana, said the batter confirmed her leader’s availability in a pre-match news conference but urged her teammates to be “smart” in their batting approach.

“We can’t we can’t go out there thinking that we are going to take on the bowling lineup and cruise]to a big total] because the conditions and the outfield]in Dubai] are a different”, Mandhana said.

India’s poor net run rate (NRR), which currently places them in fourth place in Group A, will hinder their bid to reach the semifinals.

The Indian top-order batter said the team won’t be concerned about the NRR and will instead concentrate on achieving a second win in the bag.

Pitch and weather conditions

In its four matches thus far in the tournament, Dubai has produced low-scoring encounters. The highest scorecard for a game against India was New Zealand’s 160, which was primarily a case of batters struggling to hit boundaries. The pitch, too, has not provided big-hitting opportunities.

The teams and fans can expect cooler temperatures, given the game will be a late start. The humidity levels will drop as the match progresses.

Form guide: India

The South Asian powerhouse’s first two points came from India’s victory over Pakistan, but it wasn’t a flawless performance. With the exception of Kaur, neither batter has ever scored more runs in either game and will be looking to increase their net run rate.

Last five matches: W L L W W

Form guide: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, too, will be bitterly disappointed with their bating display in their two losses. If Sri Lanka are to post a challenging total, Captain Athapaththu will need to lead from the front and the top of the batting order.

Last five matches: L L L W W

India vs Sri Lanka: T20 Head-to-head record

The head-to-head record overwhelmingly favours India, who have won 19 of the 25 T20 matches between the two sides. One match washed out while Sri Lanka defeated India on four different occasions.

India team news

The team and its supporters were concerned about the Indian captain’s late injury in the match against Pakistan, but Kaur has been cleared to play on Wednesday. Pooja Vastrakar, who missed the last match due a niggle, may also return to take her place from Sajana Sajeevan.

Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan.

Sri Lanka team news

Although Sri Lanka’s batting problems have plagued them for the first two games, it is unlikely that the bowler-heavy side will alter their starting lineup for the match against India.

Kenya lawmakers vote to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua

Rigathi Gachagua, the deputy president, will be impeached for abuse of office, according to the Kenyan legislature.

The impeachment motion on Tuesday accused the 59-year-old deputy to President William Ruto of corruption, insubordination, undermining the government and practising ethnically divisive politics, among a host of other charges.

More than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly have voted in favor of the motion, according to the results of the motion, according to Parliament Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

There were 44 votes against and one abstention, according to Wetangula.

Kimani Ichung’wah, parliament’s majority leader, said the deputy president had “violated not one, but eight provisions of our constitution”.

Gachagua has denied all the charges.

On Tuesday evening, he urged lawmakers to “search your conscience” before voting.

Please make the right decision if you examine your conscience and consider the issues that have been raised and decide that there are no grounds to remove Kenya’s deputy president.

He proclaimed his innocence, offering a detailed denial of the allegations, which include amassing a large unexplained property portfolio, and promoting “ethnic Balkanisation”.

“I will fight to the end”, he told a news conference on the eve of the impeachment proceedings.

The upper house Senate will now hear the impeachment motion, and if approved, Gachagua would become the first deputy president to be removed from office in this manner since the revised constitution of Kenya, which introduced impeachment.

Within a week of receiving the impeachment, the upper house Senate will have 10 days to consider the motion, including allowing Gachagua to cross-examine the evidence.

To pass it, at least two-thirds of senators must support it.

However, the court has the option to uphold the impeachment.

The proceedings, which Ruto’s coalition allies started last week, have been ordered to be halted by Gachagua.

In his 2022 victory in the election, he supported Ruto and helped secure a sizable portion of the region’s electorate’s votes. Gachagua has spoken of being sidelined in recent months, amid widespread reports in regional media that he has reportedly rekindled his relationship with Ruto as political alliances have changed.

Following nationwide demonstrations against unpopular tax increases in June and July that resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, Ruto removed the majority of his cabinet and appointed members of the main opposition.