[1] Perhaps no other issue in recent times exposes the hypocrisy of world leaders than the tragedy now unfolding in Gaza.
[2] Let’s start with Western hypocrisy. Western leaders pretend to be great icons of democracy and human rights. They never tire of preaching these values to the rest of the world and do not hesitate to take to task those who fall short of their standards. But their commitment to these “universal” values are only skin deep.
[3] In practice, they operate on the principle that their enemies must adhere to democratic standards of behaviour while their friends are free to do as they wish. Thus, countries like Russia, China and Iran are harshly criticised for their undemocratic behaviour while countries like Israel – dubbed the only democracy in the Middle East – can get away with the most appalling disregard for human rights. It is criminal for Russia to invade Ukraine, but Israel is justified in invading, occupying and annexing Palestinian land and killing its people at will.
[4] Western leaders see themselves as guided by great humanitarian ideals and want us to note how they go out of their way to send food and other humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. But what does it really say about their humanity when they provide missiles to the aggressor to maim and kill the people of Gaza and then rush food to the victims of those same weapons? America has the power to stop Israel’s war of aggression against Gaza but instead of doing it, American officials fly around the region trying to “broker” peace.
[5] Hypocrisy is not in short supply elsewhere in the Middle East either. Arab and Muslim leaders hold big conferences, talk about Muslim brotherhood and condemn the slaughter of Palestinians but it’s all just talk. For all their bombast, they’ve done very little to stop the carnage. Student protestors in America have done more to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people than many of these Islamic nations.
[6] The fact is not a few Arab governments are all working quietly with Israel to frustrate Palestinian independence because they need Israel (and the US) to counter Iran – their ancient enemy. Indeed, there is now an informal regional military coalition that includes both Saudi Arabia and Israel. But, of course, few will call out Saudi Arabia for its duplicity on the issue.
[7] But we don’t have to go too far to see hypocrisy in full flower; our prime minister can match any Western leader when it comes to the great game of hypocrisy. Convinced that his own credentials are unimpeachable, that Malaysia itself is a paragon of virtue, he has taken to preaching to the rest of the world and calling them out for their double standards.
[8] In Doha recently to attend the Qatar Economic forum, the PM was in his element talking down to the rest of the world in defence of Gaza. He explained that as the leader of a multicultural nation, he felt compelled to defend the rights of minorities everywhere. He said, “I don’t feel comfortable if I hear of a Chinese Christian or Hindu Indian feeling discriminated.” With not a little chutzpah, he even appeared to hint that Western leaders should perhaps emulate his approach.
[9] No doubt, many Malaysians would have shaken their heads in utter disbelief because they, of course, experience a different reality – pervasive and deeply-ingrained institutionalised discrimination that has long marginalized minorities. One publicly funded university, for example, welcomes foreign students (and even offers some of them financial assistance) but closes its doors to Malaysia’s own minorities.
[10] Perhaps there’s some comfort to be had knowing that Malaysia can hold its own on the world stage in the great game of hypocrisy.
Holy crap! Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) have introduced a bill that would extend the same taxpayer benefits to Americans serving in the IDF as if they were serving in the US military!
Two Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to extend taxpayer benefits typically reserved for uniformed servicemembers in the U.S. military to Americans serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
“Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) have introduced a bill that would extend the same taxpayer benefits to Americans serving in the IDF as if they were serving in the US military!” Michael Tracey wrote.
“For purposes of this chapter, to the extent practicable, the service of a citizen of the United States in the Israeli Defense Forces shall be treated in the same manner as service in the uniformed services,” the bill reads.
Note: Over 20,000 Wankees are serving Israel to fight against Hamas
[...]
“Two GOP reps have introduced a bill to extend benefits reserved for US govt servicemembers to US citizens serving in the IDF. Our own servicemembers are struggling but the GOP wants to give their benefits away to troops serving in a foreign army!” Information Liberation publisher Chris Menahan wrote.
Miller made headlines last year for demanding a Christian woman delete a “bigoted” tweet stating that salvation can only come through “having faith in Jesus Christ alone.”
“God says that Jewish people are the chosen ones,” Miller, a self-described “Proud Jew,” insisted.
The woman was fired from her job at Ohio Right to Life — where Miller’s wife Elizabeth Marbach works as a communications director — just days later.
Tons of our own servicemembers are struggling but the GOP wants to give their benefits away to troops serving in a foreign army.
***
WankeeLand ruled by Shylocks
The global imperialistic Wankees
Are in truth mere shylock-ish macai
Behaving like obedient monkees Their apish visages like chi-bye-bye
Wankees had slaughtered the Apaches
And the Sioux and Southern Navajo
Making victims too of Comanches
And to Mexicans they're nasty gringo
But the self-proclaimed 'Chosen Ones' See Wankees as Pharaoh had saw them
A son of Jemaah Islamiyah founder Abu Bakar Bashir has claimed that the senior cleric no longer has any ties with Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim in Ulu Tiram, Johor, ever since his return to Indonesia 25 years ago.
When contacted, Abdul Rahim Bashir said his father also has no communication with family members of the 21-year-old assailant shot dead in last Friday’s pre-dawn attack on the Ulu Tiram police station
“We don’t know them. Maybe when Ustaz Abu Bakar was there (in Malaysia), they (suspect’s family) went to ‘mengaji’ (learn) from him, but he won’t know every single one of them,” Abdul Rahim, 47, told Malaysiakini.
“I heard my father’s name was mentioned again there (in Malaysia) and he was perceived as being responsible for this situation (attack).
"The way I see it, how can that be? Malaysian police to my knowledge have said the action was that of an individual,” he said.
Fresh questions were raised over the existence of Jemaah Islamiyah in Malaysia following Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain’s initial statement after the suspect killed two police officers and injured another officer, before he was shot dead.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain
Razarudin had initially linked the suspect to the banned terror organisation, but subsequently clarified it was an individual act and the alleged links to JI were from his father’s status as a member.
Asia’s most wanted terrorist
Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported today that the Johor state government is considering demolishing the remains of Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim - built on private land near the suspect’s family home - abandoned ever since it was shut down in 2001.
The Malay daily quoted Johor Islamic Affairs exco Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid as saying that the Johor Islamic Religious Council and police are considering the demolition, citing safety concerns based on public complaints following the attack.
Alumni of the sekolah pondok include Asia’s most wanted terrorist Noordin Mohd Top - born in Kluang, Johor - who died in an ambush by Indonesian authorities on Sept 17, 2009, for his role behind various bombings across Indonesia in the early 2000s.
“Ever since Ustaz Abu Bakar returned (to Indonesia), he no longer has any business there (in Malaysia),” claimed Abdul Rahim.
UN Security watchlist
Abdul Rahim, whose name has been listed on a United Nations Security watchlist since 2011 for suspected ties to Al-Qaeda, further claimed that his father was never involved in founding the sekolah pondok or its management.
“He was only someone viewed as an ustaz, a role model.
“But he was never part of the management or founder. You can check that with any registration documents,” said Abdul Rahim.
Abu Bakar, who lived in exile in Malaysia to escape President Soeharto’s regime, returned to Indonesia after the Reformasi era and established the Indonesian Mujahedin Council which aimed to implement Islamic law in Indonesia.
In 2021, he obtained compassionate release after serving 10 years from a 15-year sentence for organising paramilitary training for militants in Acheh.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has today accused the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge of refusing access to his legal team. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
Tuesday, 21 May 2024 7:48 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has today accused the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the sovereignty of Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge of refusing access to his legal team.
In a statement through his lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, Dr Mahathir stated that his legal team was not given prior notice about the RCI proceedings which began today and was told that they would be behind closed doors.
“When my legal representatives found out about the RCI happening today, they tried to attend so we could bring forth some of our objections and requests. However, all of it was turned down and the proceedings then took place behind closed doors.
“These proceedings are being conducted in secrecy as no one was notified it was beginning today. How am I going to explain myself and defend myself if my lawyers and I were not allowed to attend these proceedings?” he said in the statement
Dr Mahathir criticised this move, asserting that either he or his lawyers should be present throughout the proceedings, as mandated by Act 119 of the Commissions Of Enquiry Act 1950.
In 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Batu Puteh belonged to Singapore. In 2017, Malaysia applied to the ICJ for an interpretation of the judgment.
However, in 2018, Dr Mahathir’s administration withdrew the application. The Pakatan Harapan government, led by Dr Mahathir, withdrew the application to overturn the ICJ’s ruling before the case was scheduled to be heard on June 11, 2018.
Dr Mahathir then clarified that Malaysia and Singapore had earlier agreed in writing not to file any pleas, making the ICJ’s ruling final.
In February, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim approved the formation of the RCI to investigate the issue.
The RCI is chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif, with former Federal Court Judge Tan Sri Zainun Ali as deputy chairman. Other members include legal expert Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, former dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Malaya Prof. Johan Shamsuddin Sabaruddin, constitutional and administrative law expert Prof. Datin D. Faridah Jalil, Johor Financial Officer Datuk Mohammed Ridha Abd Kadir, and Director of the South Region at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Dickson Dollah.
Dr Mahathir also called for the removal of Raus, Baljit, Ridha and Abdul Kadir from the panel today citing conflicts of interest, but did not elaborate.
The former prime minister also said that any decision made during his 2018 administration was with Cabinet consent, naming his then-deputy Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and those in his Cabinet: Anthony Loke, Gobind Singh and Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane with 211 passengers and 18 crew was headed to Singapore when it made the emergency landing, the airline said in a statement. — Reuters pic
Tuesday, 21 May 2024 6:50 PM MYT
BANGKOK, May 21 — A Singapore Airlines flight from London made an emergency landing in Bangkok today due to severe turbulence, officials said, with one passenger on board dead and local media reporting multiple injuries.
It was not immediately clear at what point during the flight the injuries and death took place.
Thai media reports said there were 30 injuries, while Singapore Airlines did not specify how many people were injured.
Video clips shared on social media by reporters at the scene showed emergency vehicles lined up at the airport.
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport official confirmed one death but did not confirm the total injured.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane with 211 passengers and 18 crew was headed to Singapore when it made the emergency landing, the airline said in a statement.
“Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” the airline said.
“We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance.”
The last Singapore Airlines fatalities were in October 2000 when a plane crashed on a closed runway during takeoff at Taiwan and 83 people died.
Singapore Airlines has had 7 accidents according to records by the Aviation Safety Network.
Thai immigration police said that medical personnel have boarded the plane to assess injuries but cannot confirm the number and some uninjured passengers were deplaned. — Reuters
Individual members of Israel’s security forces are tipping off far-right activists and settlers to the location of aid trucks delivering vital supplies to Gaza, enabling the groups to block and vandalise the convoys, according to multiple sources.
Settlers intercepting the vital humanitarian supplies to the strip are receiving information about the location of the aid trucks from members of the Israeli police and military, a spokesperson from the main Israeli activist group behind the blockades told the Guardian.
The claim of collusion by members of the security forces is supported by messages from internal internet chat groups reviewed by the Guardian as well as accounts from a number of witnesses and human rights activists.
Those blocking the vehicles say the aid they carry is being diverted by Hamas instead of being delivered to civilians in need a claim relief agencies reject.
Settlers attempting to block an aid truck to Gaza at the Tarqumiya crossing point. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The Guardian
Rachel Touitou, a spokesperson for the Israeli group Tzav 9, said the group had been blocking trucks as they made their way through Israel since January, on the grounds that the aid they carried was “hijacked” by Hamas once it reached Gaza.
“When a policeman or soldier’s mission is supposed to protect Israelis and instead he is sent to protect humanitarian aid convoys – knowing it will end up in the hands of Hamas – we cannot blame them or civilians who notice the trucks passing by their towns for providing intel to groups trying to block that aid. Yes, some of our intel comes from individual members of Israeli forces,” Touitou added.
Gaza-bound aid trucks set on fire and looted in West Bank – video
Photographs from the scene showed piles of damaged aid packages and trails of rice and flour across the road. Photographs later circulated on social media showing the trucks on fire.
Touitou said: “It was not Tzav 9 that burned the trucks … this was not our action,” adding that other groups were responsible for the arson attack.
The settlers say they are blocking the aid trucks in order to stop supplies reaching Hamas and accuse the Israeli government of giving “gifts” to the Islamist group.
“Our purpose is to highlight that feeding your enemy, in this specific case Hamas, especially during a time of war, is immoral,” said Touitou. “Israel has been delivering this humanitarian aid without expecting anything in return. And 80% of the population agrees with our stance. Hamas is reselling this aid to civilians, which is meant to be distributed for free. We will continue to block this humanitarian aid until they can prove that it is reaching the civilians.”
The settlers say they are blocking the aid trucks to stop supplies reaching Hamas. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The Guardian
Yazid al-Zoubi, 26, a Palestinian lorry driver who was attacked by the protesters last week at Tarqumiya checkpoint, said: “There is full cooperation between the settlers and the army. We are shocked and surprised that the army did not provide us with any kind of protection. Even though they were present and watching what was happening. The army was at the service of the settlers.”
Two soldiers from Israel’s Home Front Command refused an order to evacuate protesters who blocked aid trucks in the Makhash area last week, according to the IDF. One of them was sentenced to 20 days in prison, Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan, reported.
An IDF spokesperson said: “A female reserve fighter refused to carry out a task to maintain order in an area that was defined as a closed military area and as a result she was brought to disciplinary proceedings accordingly. The fighter was convicted of the crime of refusing an order. This is an incident that is not consistent with what is expected of IDF soldiers while fulfilling their mission.”
Footage of the incident obtained by the Guardian appears to show Israeli soldiers escorting the convoy, taking no action against the settlers.
Israeli soldiers look on as settlers loot aid trucks bound for Gaza – video
The same settlers and far-right activists often notify their members in advance about the times and locations that aid trucks are heading towards Gaza, citing that they receive this information from the Israeli police and military.
In one such message seen by the Guardian, far-right activists alerted members that they would “receive preliminary information about the planning of moving trucks, from border crossings’ soldiers and police”.
In another message in a settler WhatsApp group, a member wrote on Sunday: “I received information from an officer in the IDF that they bring the trucks in front of Ofra [a settlement] into Bitin [a Palestinian village].”
A message in a settler WhatsApp group where activists are given information about the movement of aid supplies. Photograph: supplied
“When an emergency call about a convoy of trucks is received,” the first messagesays, “the group opens for discussions, and when this happens please only send messages related to the blockade, such as locations, photos, information and hitchhiking.”
Touitou said that most of the information they received came from civilians. “Often it is the same Israelis who report aid convoys passing by. After eight months into the war, Israelis are frustrated with how aid is being managed in Gaza. If it is soldiers, policemen, or civilians like me, you cannot expect us to accept that aid will end up in the hands of Hamas.”
Sapir Sluzker Amran, an Israeli human rights lawyer who last week visited the Tarqumiya checkpoint to document the settlers’ actions and to prevent the aid from being looted, said she was beaten and slapped by a settler and that Israeli security forces did nothing to stop the assault.
“The settlers had guns and knives,” Sapir said. “I asked the IDF soldiers to stop them as what they were doing was illegal, but they asked me to leave. At some point, as I was trying to prevent an aid truck from being vandalised, a settler slapped me very hard and went away. I filmed him and took photos of him. I went to the police and asked them that I needed their help as I wanted to press charge against the man. Again, they asked me to leave. The Israeli forces let the man who attacked me free to vandalise the trucks.”
Alleged collaboration between the army and the settlers has been denounced for years by Palestinians and human rights organisations. In 2016, the IDF corporal Elad Sela, a resident of the Bat Ayin settlement who served in the Etzion regional brigade, was sentenced to 45 months in jail for passing on classified information to extreme activists, allowing them to evade arrest and continue their activities.
In October 2022, Maj Gen Herzi Halevi, who lived in the West Bank settlement of Kfar HaOranim, was appointed as Israel’s military chief of staff, in a move that highlighted the army’s relationship with settlers.
The Israeli police and Cogat, an Israeli defence ministry agency, declined to comment on the allegations that members of the security forces were helping those blocking aid deliveries.
In a statement, Nir Dinar, the head of the IDF’s international press department, rejected the allegations as “a baseless claim that I am hearing for the first time”. Dinar said police were investigating incidents relating to the blocking and vandalisation of the convoys. “IDF is working to prevent these kind of events,” he added.
On Sunday, the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, suggested the government itself should be stopping aid trucks to Gaza instead of leaving it to groups of activists.
“We are in a democratic country and I am in favour of freedom of protest. They are allowed to demonstrate,” he said in an interview with Army Radio. “I am against them attacking and burning trucks … It’s the cabinet that should be stopping the trucks.”
