War powers legislation talks reignite as Democrats push back on Trump’s justification for ‘preemptive’ strikes on Iran.

As the US and Israeli militaries expand their strikes on Iran, the administration of US President Donald Trump has alternated its justification for the war between preventing immediate attacks and countering the long-term existential threat of a nuclear Tehran.

This was on full display on Monday, with Trump and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth appearing to make the case that the culmination of Iran’s regional policies in the 47 years since the Islamic revolution, coupled with the future of its ballistic and nuclear programmes, represented an immediate threat to the US.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, argued that Washington’s close ally Israel was planning to attack Iran. In which event, the administration expected Iran to strike US assets, therefore justifying launching a preemptive attack, he said.

To date, the administration has offered little clear evidence to support any of its claims, according to advocates and analysts, as well as Democratic lawmakers who have recently attended classified briefings.

“The reality is, they’ve put forth very little evidence, and that’s a huge problem,” Emma Belcher, the president of Ploughshares, a group that advocates for denuclearisation, told Al Jazeera.

“It says, one: They don’t think they need to [make the case] for the war; that they won’t necessarily be held to account for it,” Belcher said. “But it also says to me that the evidence quite possibly isn’t there, and that they want to avoid particular scrutiny.”

Republicans have largely coalesced around the administration’s messaging, even as Democrats have pledged to force votes on war powers legislation to assert constitutional authority over the president’s military action.

Still, the administration remains in a tenuous political position as Trump’s Republican Party stares down midterm elections in November. Early public polling indicates little outright support from the US public, even as Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) base has been staid in its response.

But the more days that pass, and the more US service members are killed, the more likely that Trump will be confronted with the contradictions to his past anti-interventionist promises.

“The longer it goes on and the more costly it is in terms of lives… the more the lack of evidence becomes an albatross around the neck of the administration – one that it will have to account for come November,” according to Benjamin Radd, a senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center’s international relations department.

A kaleidoscope of claims

Speaking from the White House on Monday, Trump praised the “obliteration of Iran’s nuclear programme” in US strikes last June. But moments later, he claimed that efforts to rebuild that programme, coupled with Iran’s ballistic missile programme, represented a menace to the US.

“An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people,” Trump said. “Our country itself would be under threat, and it was very nearly under threat.”

Trump also said that, if not for US and Israeli attacks, Iran “would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America”.

Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Washington, DC-based Arms Control Association (ACA) said any claims of immediate or middle-term threats posed by Iran in terms of their ballistic and nuclear power are not supported by available evidence.

That is significant, as such “imminent threats” are required for a president justify attacks on foreign countries under both US domestic law and international law, save for approval from Congress.

World Opinions + Agencies

L’article Analysis.Trump admin offers scant evidence on Iranian threat in ‘America First’ war est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

L’armée israélienne continue lundi de mener des « frappes à grande échelle » en Iran. Son porte-parole a indiqué qu’elle augmentera ses bombardements sur « les éléments clés du régime » et que « cela durera le temps qu’il faudra ».

L’Iran a en retour lancé des projectiles vers le territoire israélien, notamment contre les villes de Jérusalem et de Tel-Aviv. Des explosions se sont aussi produites dans les grandes villes du Golfe. Les Gardiens de la Révolution affirment avoir visé 500 cibles liées aux Etats-Unis et Israël.

Le conflit s’est étendu au Liban: le Hezbollah a tiré des missiles sur le nord d’Israël et l’armée israélienne a répliqué avec des frappes, notamment dans la capitale Beyrouth.

Le Croissant-Rouge iranien a affirmé qu’un total de 555 personnes ont été tuées à travers l’Iran depuis le début des frappes israélo-américaines il y a deux jours, dans un nouveau bilan donné lundi.

Des vols vont reprendre de manière « limitée » lundi soir depuis les aéroports de Dubaï, annonce l’exploitant. La compagnie Emirates et le transporteur à bas coût flydubai ont tous deux indiqué qu’ils reprendraient certains vols lundi soir. Etihad Airways, qui opère depuis Abou Dhabi, a annoncé de son côté une reprise des vols mardi.

Le gouvernement iranien appelle la population à se rassembler à Téhéran en soutien à la République islamique

Le gouvernement iranien a appelé la population à se rassembler lundi soir dans différents quartiers de Téhéran en soutien à la République islamique et pour rendre hommage au défunt guide suprême Ali Khamenei, tué samedi par des frappes américaines L’.appel a été relayé par la télévision d’Etat.

Donald Trump prêt à envoyer des troupes au sol « si nécessaire »

Donald Trump a dit lundi qu’il n’hésiterait pas à envoyer des troupes américaines au sol en Iran « si c’était nécessaire », ajoutant que cette perspective ne lui donnait pas « le trac », dans une interview avec le New York Post.

World Opinion + Agences

L’article De nouvelles frappes israéliennes en Iran et au Liban, des explosions à Jérusalem est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Iran’s Tasnim and Mehr news agencies report that Khamenei remains “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in Israeli-US attacks, according to Israeli media reports and a senior Israeli official.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed there were “growing signs” that Khamenei was killed in the joint US-Israeli strikes, which were launched early on Saturday.

The Reuters news agency, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official, reported that Khamenei’s body has ⁠been located.

But Iran’s Tasnim and Mehr news agencies reported Khamenei remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”.

In what appeared to be a response to the claims, the head of public relations at Khamenei’s office accused the country’s enemies of “mental warfare”.

“The enemy is resorting to mental warfare, all should be aware,” the public relations official was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi said there has so far been no official confirmation from Tehran.

He noted that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News earlier that “as far as I know” Iran’s Supreme Leader, as well as other top Iranian officials remained in good health.

US President Donald Trump told NBC News in an interview that he believed reports of Khamenei’s death were a “correct story”

Saturday’s strikes on Iran targeted 24 provinces, killing at least 201 people, according to Iranian media reports, citing the Red Crescent.

Iran responded with a wave of counter attacks, targeting Israel and US military assets across the Middle East.

Netanyahu said in his address that many “senior figures” had been “eliminated” in the wave of military strikes targeting senior leaders as Trump called for the government to be toppled.

Israel, he said, had killed “commanders in the Revolutionary Guards and senior officials in the nuclear programme”. “And we will continue,” he said.

World Opinion + Agencies

L’article Reports. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israeli attacks est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Hamas confirms leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat with Israeli forces in Gaza, says he died defending Palestine until the last moments of his life.

International leaders heralded the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity to begin ceasefire negotiations — an idea Hezbollah, Israel and Hamas have rebuffed.

Israeli captives held in Gaza will not return until war on Gaza stops and Israeli forces withdraw from the besieged and bombarded territory, senior Hamas official Khalil Hayya says.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu says “this is not the end of the war in Gaza” despite the killing of Sinwar.

Lebanese group Hezbollah says it is entering a “new phase” in its fight against invading Israeli troops, adding that it has introduced new weapons over the past days.

In Gaza, at least 42,500 people have been killed and 99,546 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.

International leaders heralded the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as an opportunity to begin ceasefire negotiations — an idea Hezbollah, Israel and Hamas have rebuffed.

Following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza on Thursday, US presidential candidate Kamala Harris said it was time for the « day after to begin » in the Middle East.

The day after his death, however, Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah gave little indication any immediate fighting would stop, with both sides of the conflict instead buckling down on their conflicting demands.

After the Israeli military confirmed it had killed Sinwar, international leaders — led by US President Joe Biden — said that his death would allow ceasefire negotiations to move forward.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Sinwar, who was widely considered to be the primary architect behind the 7 October terrorist attacks, was a big obstacle in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

“On multiple occasions over the past months, Sinwar rebuffed efforts by the United States and its partners to bring this war to a close through an agreement that would return the hostages to their families and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” Blinken said in a statement Thursday.

So far, Israel has not given any indication it would be willing to start negotiations with Hamas or its Iran-backed ally, Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the families of hostages Thursday, saying that it was an « important moment » to bring the hostages home, adding that anyone who assisted with the return of hostages would be allowed to leave Gaza.

Still, the leader failed to say how Israel would fulfil Hamas’ key demand that Israel withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu also said after Sinwar’s death was confirmed that the war was not over, with « the task before us not yet complete ».

The Israeli military called up an additional reserve brigade in northern Israel on Thursday, a signal that it is prepared to continue its ground incursion into southern Lebanon whilst it simultaneously pummels Beirut’s suburbs.

Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran sabre-rattle

Senior Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya, who served as the chief negotiator for Hamas in talks for a ceasefire, also gave little hope that the group would be willing to compromise on their ceasefire conditions.

In a televised address, Al Hayya reiterated the group’s core demands that Israel withdraw from the Gaza strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israel be released.

Hezbollah, whose targets Israel is hitting in Lebanon, said that Sinwar’s death meant “the transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel. »

On Friday, the group issued a statement saying their fighters have used new types of precision-guided missiles and explosive drones against Israel in recent days, including one that hit a military training camp in Israel last Sunday, killing four people.

They added that the group were preparing in advance to battle Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and announced several missile and artillery attacks on Israeli forces on the border between the countries overnight.

Iran, who hit Israel in an attack two weeks ago, said that Sinwar would be remembered as an « inspiration ».

Israel has threatened to retaliate to Iran’s attack, compromising that it would not hit military or nuclear targets in the country after Biden warned Netanyahu that the US would not support such attacks.

World Opinions + Agencies

L’article Analysis. Hamas confirms Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza combat with Israel forces.. Hopes for ceasefire diminish day after killing of Hamas leader.. Video est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

The resolution passed but the vote demonstrated persistent flouting international law in favour of strategic interest.

The death toll from an Israeli air attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs has risen to 37 people, including three children and seven women, Lebanon’s health minister says.

On September 18, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution calling for Israel to terminate its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory within one year. The vote, which concluded with 124 in favour, 12 against, and 43 abstained, has been interpreted by some as a significant triumph for Palestinian advocacy.

Yet, the fact that 54 countries (excluding Israel) – constituting about 28 percent of all member states – did not back the resolution cannot be overlooked. It not only signifies a failure of moral courage but also underscores a pervasive hypocrisy that continues to shape global governance. In fact, it reflects continuing efforts to erode the international regime in order to ensure impunity for Israel.

The resolution in question demanded that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. It reiterated the findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in July that Israel’s occupation was illegal, that its settlements on occupied Palestinian land are also illegal and must be dismantled, and that it needs to pay reparations for damages incurred by the Palestinians.

International law is quite clear on the question of occupation: it is a criminal act. A consensus among international scholars underscores that an occupier cannot invoke the right of self-defence against the people it occupies – an argument Israel has employed to justify its nefarious genocidal actions.

In the context of this ruling by the World Court, voting against and abstaining from voting on the UNGA resolution cannot be dismissed as mere political neutrality. By choosing not to support a resolution that re-affirms the illegality of the Israeli occupation, these nations implicitly endorse Israel’s actions and contribute to the perpetuation of a status quo marked by brutal oppression and suffering. They also openly disregard and thus attack the provisions of international law.

It is important to remember that this vote came amid a continuing Israeli aggression against Gaza and the West Bank, in which nearly 42,000 Palestinians – the majority of them women and children – have been killed and more than 100,000 injured. In January, the ICJ issued a preliminary ruling that Isreal is “plausibly” violating the Genocide Convention with its actions in Gaza. This genocidal violence is a direct consequence of the decades-long illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

The October 7 attack last year by Hamas cannot be viewed in isolation. It is rooted in decades of brutal occupation that has left Palestinians trapped in what many describe as the world’s largest open-air prison, where systemic oppression, displacement, and violence have defined millions of Palestinian lives. Understanding this context is essential to addressing the underlying issues and moving toward a just and lasting resolution that honours the dignity and humanity of all affected.

One of the 12 countries that voted against the resolution – the United States – has been a long-time supporter of the Israeli occupation, sending billions worth of weapons to its military before and after October. For its role in arming Israel, the US has been repeatedly accused of complicity in Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Strangely, the US representative to the UN entered a “no” vote despite the fact that Judge Sarah Cleveland, who represents the US at the ICJ, voted in favour of all the court’s opinions in the July ruling.

What makes the US position even more problematic is that it has had the exact opposite stance on occupations elsewhere. In 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and occupied parts of its territory, Washington was at the forefront of global condemnation, sending billions in military and financial aid to the Ukrainian army. This has set a troubling double standard that other countries allied with the US have also followed.

The United Kingdom, for example, expressed “considerable concerns” about the January ICJ ruling and rejected genocide allegations against Israel. On September 18, it chose to abstain. Despite its own legal advisers warning that British weapons could be used for human rights violations in Gaza, the British government has continued its arms shipments to the Israeli army, suspending just 30 out of 350 arms export licences.

Like Washington, London has also extended significant military support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation and wholeheartedly backed investigations into war crimes committed by Russian forces.

Germany, which also abstained on September 18, is another example of a country with a troubling position. As a key supplier of arms to Israel, Germany faces serious allegations of facilitating the commission of genocide, complicating its moral standing and raising questions about its commitment to human rights. Its government has announced plans to intervene in the main hearing of the genocide case against Israel at the ICJ, categorically rejecting the accusations of genocide without substantial justification.

While trying to block legal proceedings against Israel, Germany has accelerated investigations launched by its own justice system into war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Various other countries in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific – mostly US and NATO allies – have also either voted against the UNGA resolution or abstained, putting geopolitical considerations above international law and ethics.

The hypocrisy inherent in these geopolitical alliances raises critical questions about the integrity of the global legal framework. Why is it that violations committed by Israel, an ally of powerful Western nations, are met with silence or insufficient condemnation and others are not? This inconsistency not only deepens the divisions between the West and the Global South, but also damages the legitimacy of international law and its ability to prevent atrocities.

The more Israel is shielded by these countries, the more it flouts international law without fear of consequences and the more brutal and deadly its abuses become. And its violations do not only affect the Palestinian population. This pattern of impunity undermines the foundational principles of justice and accountability and encourages others to engage in such crimes.

The abstention of 43 countries and the opposition from 11 others regarding the UNGA resolution send a clear message to the world: there are “no rules”. This alarming trend suggests that nations with powerful militaries can act unilaterally, disregarding international law without consequence. If we fail to halt this erosion of the legal regime, we risk descending into a world governed by the “law of the jungle”.

Such a breakdown of international law would have catastrophic implications for human civilisation. It would foster a climate where the powerful can trample on the rights of the weak, perpetuating cycles of violence and oppression. The hypocrisy evident in the global response to the Palestinian plight exemplifies this dangerous disregard for justice and accountability. As these 54 countries continue to turn a blind eye to grave violations, the foundations of global order are threatened.

To restore faith in international law, countries must prioritise human rights over strategic interests. This requires a unified front from the international community. Nations must hold each other accountable for their actions and speak out against violations, regardless of political affiliations or alliances. A true commitment to justice necessitates that the principles of international law be applied consistently and without bias.

Only through decisive action can the ideals of international law be upheld and the world saved from a dark, lawless future.

Israel-Hezbollah attacks resume after Lebanon says 37 killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Here’s a look at today’s main developments:

The death toll from an Israeli air attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs has risen to 37 people, including three children and seven women, Lebanon’s health minister says.

The strike, which wrecked two buildings in the Lebanese capital’s Dahiya district during rush hour on Friday, also injured more than 60 people, Health Minister Firass Abiad told a news conference on Saturday.

Cross-border attacks between Hezbollah and Israel have resumed. Hezbollah says it has fired rockets at two military positions in northern Israel, while the IDF said it was attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

The number of people killed in the Israeli strike on Beirut on Friday has risen to 37, the Lebanese health ministry says, as search and rescue efforts in Dahieh continue.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed 16 Hezbollah members in the strike, including 12 senior commanders.

A news conference by Lebanon’s health ministry revealed this morning that 152 people are still in a critical condition after the device explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday. It also said the number of those killed over the two days of explosions has risen from 37 to 39.

Away from Lebanon in Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 22 people, « mostly » children and women, have been killed following a strike on a school in Gaza city housing displaced people.

World Opinions + BBC News + Aljazeera News

L’article Analysis. No, the UNGA resolution on Palestine was not a win..  Attacks resume after Lebanon says 37 killed in Israeli strike on Beirut est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Tens of thousands of people rally in Tel Aviv to protest against the government’s proposed judicial overhaul.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have joined protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul the judiciary, despite soaring tensions after two deadly attacks a day earlier.

The protests against the plans, which were paused last month in the face of a wave of strikes and mass demonstrations, come amid surging violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

As protesters rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian man in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Ahed Salim, 20, was hit in the chest and stomach by live fire in Azzun near Qalqilyah, the ministry said.

Separately, the Israeli military said three rockets were launched from Syria toward Israeli territory. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket launches, which caused no damage or casualties.

Around Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, tens of thousands of worshippers were expected for evening prayers amid concerns about a possible repeat of nighttime Israeli police raids this week that were followed by rocket barrages into Israel and Israeli air attacks on Gaza and southern Lebanon.

Israelis were also on edge after a car-ramming in Tel Aviv on Friday that killed an Italian man and wounded five other tourists, hours after a shooting attack killed two Israeli sisters and wounded their mother near an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu has mobilised border police reservists and ordered the army to reinforce security positions to head off possible trouble, amid calls for calm from the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.

People ignore government calls

In central Tel Aviv, crowds waving the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests during the past three months gathered in a show of defiance against plans they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from Tel Aviv, said that some 145,000 people were expected to attend the protest.

“There were calls and warnings issued by the government asking people not to attend the protest today due to the security concerns,” he said.

“However, protesters say that the government is using security as an excuse and it is not going to stop them from taking to streets,” he said.

“They say that it is a historic moment for the country and they are here to save democracy in Israel.”

The judicial proposals, which would give the government effective control over the appointment of Supreme Court judges and allow parliament to overrule many decisions of the court, have caused one of the biggest domestic crises in Israel’s recent history.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including army reservists, business leaders, members of Israel’s tech industry and leading academics have taken part, facing off against supporters of Netanyahu’s far-right religious-nationalist coalition.

Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, said that the growing crisis is further isolating Netanyahu.

He said that he is losing control of his government and was being subjected to “blackmail” by his coalition partners.

“He is losing big time in the polls in Israel. He is also losing the security situation as well as so-called stability and prosperity in the country.”

The government, which has accused activist judges of increasingly usurping the role of parliament, said the overhaul is needed to restore a proper balance between the judiciary and elected politicians.

Critics have said it will remove some of the vital checks and balances underpinning a democratic state and hand unchecked power to the government.

Before the protests, police had urged people to leave roads clear to allow emergency services to move freely following Friday’s car-ramming on a popular shoreline promenade in Tel Aviv.

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L’article Thousands join Israeli judicial protests amid soaring tensions est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

After the New Year’s Eve attacks on police and rescue workers in several German cities, the political debate about the causes of the violence and Germany’s integration policy continues to gain momentum. In Berlin, 145 people, most of whom were under the age of 25, were arrested by police in connection with the riots.

Nach den verheerenden Ausschreitungen in der #Silvesternacht berichten Berliner #Feuerwehr|leute, wie sie die Situation erlebt haben – und was sie sich wünschen. pic.twitter.com/74qGivxBsv

— rbb Abendschau (@rbbabendschau) January 3, 2023

Flying bottles and firecrackers, injured first responders and videos of violence — the New Year’s Eve riots in Berlin and other cities across Germany has prompted a heated debate not only about a possible ban on fireworks, but also the root causes of the riots, Germany’s allegedly failed integration policy, racist stereotypes and punishments of the rioters.

« We have a big problem in major German cities with certain young men with an immigrant background who despise our state, commit acts of violence and are hardly reached by education and integration programs, » federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the Funke Mediengruppe (Funke media group) on Wednesday (January 4), 

Young perpetrators would have to face swift and clear consequences under criminal law, the politician said. However, Faeser warned against stirring up racist resentment, saying « those who exploit the necessary debate in order to exclude do not solve the problem, but intensify it. »

Wir müssen gewaltbereiten Integrationsverweigerern in unseren Städten die Grenzen aufzeigen: mit harter Hand und klarer Sprache. Aber ohne rassistische Ressentiments zu schüren. Wer die notwendige Debatte ausnutzt, um auszugrenzen, löst das Problem nicht, sondern verstärkt es.

— Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) January 4, 2023

Instead of using the attacks on police and firefighters as a reason for an integration debate, the federal government’s integration and anti-racism commissioner believes the focus should be on young men as perpetrators. « What we need is an honest debate about youth violence, » Reem Alabali-Radovan told the dpa news agency on Wednesday. After all, she said, it is « mainly about young men who experience violence in a group. »

« We must judge perpetrators by their actions, not by their presumed origins, as some are now doing, » Alabali-Radovan added.

What happened on New Year’s Eve?

In the night of New Year’s Day, police officers and firefighters on duty in several cities were attacked, including with fireworks. In Germany’s most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, some 250 mostly young people were temporarily detained, around half of them German citizens.

In Berlin, 41 police officers on duty were reportedly injured. According to a spokesman for the authorities, one policeman who suffered severe burns has since been released from hospital. 145 people were arrested by the police in connection with the riots in the German capital.

According to a police report, the alleged perpetrators in Berlin were almost all male and of 18 different nationalities. 45 of the suspects were German citizens, followed by 27 Afghan nationals and 21 Syrians. All suspects have since been released.

Moreover, about two-thirds of the 145 arrested are under 25 years old, according to police. Of those, 27 suspects are still minors, police said Wednesday (January 4).

Andreas Zick, head of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence at Bielefeld University, warned against blaming people with a migration background. « The fact that New Year’s Eve was so violent is part of an increase in violence throughout society, » he told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND).

‘Society-wide’ problem

Echoing Zick’s comments, political scientist Hans Vorländer said repeated outbreaks of violence including attacks on police or firefighters was « a problem of violence in society as a whole, » he told news agency dpa.

According to Vorländer, who is a member of the German Council of Experts on Integration and Migration (SVR), this problem exists not only in neighborhoods with a high proportion of people with a migration background, but has also occurred, for example, around the COVID-19 demonstrations, at right-wing extremist marches and in the violent soccer fan scene.

Problems arise above all, Vorländer added, with young men and in a certain environment, where « there are problems of accommodation, where the level of education is low » and a « widespread street culture of showing off, where the desire for recognition, even through acts of violence, is prevalent. »

Ulrich Wagner, a social psychologist, said that alcohol often plays a role, as well as a mood between cheerfulness and aggression, which then turns as a mixture of « attack and joke » against the rescue forces. At the same time, Wagner pointed to an overall downward trend in violence. However, he added that specific forms of violence — such as those directed at emergency personnel at the recent turn of the year — are on the rise.

Psychologist and migration expert Ahmad Mansour said the topic is also about youth culture. The suspects were people who wanted to understand and live out their masculinity in such a way that they were also prepared to use violence, he told tagesschau24. « It was pure lust for violence, » Mansour said, « but it also has to do with patriarchal structures that lead to these people perceiving our rule of law, our police, our rescue forces as something weak that is allowed to be attacked. »

Psychologe und Migrationsexperte Ahmad Mansour betrachtet eine Lösung zur Reduzierung der Gewalt in der Arbeit mit Eltern. Und er beklagt, dass Moscheen nicht die Werte der Gesellschaft ermitteln. (T+) https://t.co/0JXjKXvKso

— Tagesspiegel (@Tagesspiegel) January 4, 2023

Mansour further said that many mosques were part of the problem. « Of course, these riots on New Year’s Eve have nothing to do with Islam, » he told news outlet Tagesspiegel. However, many mosque associations repeatedly conveyed values « that contradict our fundamental values. »

« If I keep making parents afraid of equality and freedom of opinion and reject the values of this society, then I cannot credibly say the day after tomorrow that they should raise their children without violence, » he said.

What did emergency forces say?

Some responders also joined the debate in the wake of the New Year’s Eve riots. A Twitter user named Martin who says he’s a member of his local voluntary fire brigade, lamented an « increasing aggressiveness, impatience and incomprehension » during operations when people feel restricted by first responders.

« People’s aggression has increased since the #AfD has been dumping their filth all over the media and no, it’s not just migrants and foreigners, » he said, referring to Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party. « The aggression/impatience comes from all sectors of society, » he tweeted, adding that « in this respect, we do not have a specific problem with people of a certain origin (apart from hot spots), but a problem for society as a whole. »

Wir haben diesbezüglich (von Brennpunkten abgesehen) kein spezifisches Problem mit Menschen bestimmter Herkunft, sondern ein gesamtgesellschaftliches Problem /End

— Martin (@ybessal) January 2, 2023

Baris Coban, a fireman on the scene in Berlin on New Year’s Eve described how he and his colleagues were being attacked with stones, bottles and firecrackers by « young adults, » most of whom supposedly had a migration background. « I’m saying that despite having a migration background myself, » he told RBB24. « I’ve been fighting prejudices all my life. » Coban further said he and his colleagues had to stop extinguishing a burning coach and leave the scene to protect themselves.

Nach den verheerenden Ausschreitungen in der #Silvesternacht berichten Berliner #Feuerwehr|leute, wie sie die Situation erlebt haben – und was sie sich wünschen. pic.twitter.com/74qGivxBsv

— rbb Abendschau (@rbbabendschau) January 3, 2023

Conservative politicians criticized for comments

Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Union party, told the Münchner Merkur newspaper, « The chaotic people, many of them with « migration backgrounds, » are challenging the state they despise with their rampage. »

Markus Söder, Prime Minister of the state of Bavaria, said that « Berlin is unfortunately developing into a chaos city — starting with politics, which can neither organize elections nor guarantee the safety of its citizens, » referring to last year’s flawed election that led to a re-election planned for February 12.

It was « of course without question that emergency forces must never, with any justification, in any situation be attacked, hindered in their mission, » Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on the sidelines of her visit to Lisbon.

The legal policy spokesman for the Greens in the Bundestag, Helge Limburg, condemned the riots. He told the Tagesspiegel that the attempt by some conservative politicians to locate the problems primarily in Berlin was obviously an election campaign maneuver. Racist resentment was being served instead of solutions being presented, Limburg said.

Canan Bayram, a member of Parliament for the Green Party, complained that the discussion about the attacks on New Year’s Eve was serving « racist stereotypes ».

Wenn ein MdB der #CDU nicht in der Lage ist, über Herausforderungen zu reden, ohne rassistische Stereotype zu bedienen, müssen wir wohl endlich über Integrationskurse für Menschen reden, denen die Integration in die Einwanderungsgesellschaft in #Deutschland nicht gelingen will pic.twitter.com/xltqYf21tW

— Canan Bayram (@LieblingXhain) January 3, 2023

Jens Spahn, deputy parliamentary group leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union party, blamed a failed integration policy in part for the escalation. « This is more about unregulated migration, failed integration and a lack of respect for the state rather than fireworks, » Spahn told the portal t-online.

‘Strong state,’ education, parents and mosques as levers

Political scientist Vorländer said counteracting outbreaks of violence like the one on New Year’s Eve didn’t require special projects but « strengthening the regular systems of school, work, housing » as well as law enforcement and justice.

« To stop the violence, » Germany’s commissioner for integration and anti-racism Reem Alabali-Radovan said on Twitter, « we need not only a strong state that shows a presence on the streets and sanctions crimes quickly and severely, but also an interlocking of social work and prevention in schools, as well as the police and the courts. »

Um die Gewalt zu stoppen, brauchen wir neben einem starken Staat, der Präsenz auf der Straße zeigt und Straftaten schnell und hart sanktioniert, auch ein Ineinandergreifen von Sozialarbeit und Prävention an Schulen, aber auch von Polizei und Gerichten. 3/4

— Reem Alabali-Radovan (@ReemAlabali) January 4, 2023

Psychologist and migration expert Ahmad Mansour considers a solution to reducing violence to be working with parents. « Violence is not questioned at all as an educational method; they think that they can educate their children with violence. That’s why we have to have dialogues with the parents. »

Finally, Mansour and other psychologists said the onus is also on mosques, especially when it comes to promoting integration work.

World Opinions – Info Migrants With dpa, tagesschau.de, KNA

L’article Germany: Integration debate following New Year’s violence est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.

Reports of armoured columns heading for Kyiv as Russia’s invasion continues.

This lady is currently in Kyiv, Ukraine. She has been making videos since yesterday and says the city gets attacked constantly and this might be her last video.. We’re living in a nightmare. https://t.co/5mlRDEOKpa

— ipek (@ipeciliously) February 25, 2022

« At today’s meeting, the Uefa Executive Committee also decided that Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams competing in Uefa competitions will be required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice. »

The 2021/22 UEFA Men’s Champions League final will move from Saint Petersburg to Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.

Full statement: ⬇️

— UEFA (@UEFA) February 25, 2022

Russia’s defence ministry has just issued a statement maintaining that its troops are holding the Chernobyl nuclear plant in order to « protect it ».

Russian forces approaching Kyiv from northeast and east: Ukraine armyhttps://t.co/i2sqnv3v6Y pic.twitter.com/pjBK5zYKFv

— 🌎 Sarwar 🌐 (@ferozwala) February 25, 2022

It says it is doing so to ensure that « nationalistic groups and other terrorist organisations cannot use the situation in the country in order to stage a nuclear provocation ».

Russia also said that the levels of radiation in the plant’s surrounding area were normal and that staff were continuing to monitor levels of radioactivity.

Russian troops seized the notorious nuclear plant on Thursday – you can read more about its significance here.

Back-to-back explosions heard in Ukraine. Artillery shelling continues in Kyiv.

Times Network’s Maroof Raza and former diplomat Suresh Goel analyse the situation on ground in Ukraine#PutinEncirclesKyiv #PutinOnTheMarch

LIVE: https://t.co/PnafXxjR6E pic.twitter.com/exhTMaefrJ

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 25, 2022

Elsewhere in the statement, Russia made various claims about its gains in the war, saying troops had advanced in Donetsk and Luhansk. It also said more than 150 Ukrainian troops had surrendered and that dozens of Ukrainian military infrastructure sites, weapons and vehicles had been destroyed.

This is a Russian armed vehicle has run over a car WITH A MAN INSIDE. North of Kyiv, #Ukraine.

President Putin’s spokesperson says the Russian troops need to « clear Ukraine on nazis ».#NoToWar #StopTheWar #StopPutin pic.twitter.com/SIlyohqTO6

— защищённая характеристика (@avtorka_) February 25, 2022

Ukraine’s armed forces, meanwhile, made their own competing claims in a Facebook post earlier, saying that they were holding the line in Donetsk and Luhansk where Russian troops had had « no success » and had also pushed back Russian troops in other areas.

It is important to note that neither side’s claims can currently be verified.

« There are no age restrictions. »It tells people if they face problems signing up, they just need to refer to this official tweet.

✅Офіційна заява Командувача Сил ТрО Юрія Галушкіна:

‼️Сьогодні Україні потрібні всі. Всі процедури приєднання до ТрО спрощені. З собою мати лише паспорт та ідентифікаційний код. Вікових обмежень немає.

Якщо у вас на місцях будуть проблеми, посилайтесь на цю офіційну заяву.

— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022

World Opinions – Agencies

L’article Russia attacks Ukraine: Russian forces close on Kyiv est apparu en premier sur World Opinion | Alternative Média.