Tag Archives: palestine

Folks in Gaza, here’s some good news for you.

politics, , , , , , ,

A European Citizens’ Initiative that demands the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of Israel’s violations of human rights is getting close to the required one million signatures.

Here’s the link for people in EU who wanna sign : 

https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2025/000005_en

This development is stunning.

The petition started in January this year and the deadline is January 2027. In only three and a half month the goal is already getting near.

More and more people in Europe are fed up with the lies and crimes from Israel!

Text copied from : https://feddit.org/post/28357639

According to the European Commission, the State of Israel is responsible for an unprecedented level of killing and injury of civilians, a large-scale displacement of population and the systematic destruction of hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza. [1] Israel also implemented a blockade of humanitarian aid that could amount to starvation as a method of war. Israel is in breach of multiple rules and obligations under international law and fails to prevent the crime of genocide as ordered by the International Court of Justice.[2]

Yet the European Union has still not suspended its association agreement with Israel, which is the cornerstone of EU-Israel bilateral trade, economic, and political cooperation.

EU citizens cannot tolerate that the EU maintains an agreement that contributes to legitimize and finance a State that commits crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Therefore, we call on the Commission to put forward the proposal to the Council for the full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

[1] European External Action Service, note of the Office of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, 20 June 2025 https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar0246a0da

[2] International Court of Justice, Order of 26 January 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203447

Annex In 1995, the EU has concluded an Association agreement with the State of Israel, aiming at facilitating and increasing trade, providing a framework for bilateral political dialogue, and fostering scientific, technologic and cultural cooperation.

With more than 34% of Israel’s imports originating from the EU, and 28.8% of Israeli exports flowing to the EU, the EU is Israel’s first trade partner. Total trade in goods between the EU and Israel in 2024 amounted to €42.6 billion.[3]

In 2021, Israel joined Horizon Europe, the EU’s main funding programme for research and innovation.1.11 billion euros from the EU’s Horizon Europe fund goes to Israeli companies, universities and public bodies. Among the 921 projects with 231 Israeli recipients are companies that are closely involved with the Israeli military.[4]

Article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement provides that “Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement”

A breach of Article 2 gives the right to the other Party to unilaterally suspend the Agreement. Several international institutions have given evidence that Israel is in breach of Article 2 :

The European External Action Service (EEAS) report, [5] communicated to the Council on 20 June 2025 gives a detailed account of the rules and obligations of international law breached by the State of Israel in the Gaza Strip and in the West bank; particularly with regard to the blockade of humanitarian aid, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the systematic targeting of hospitals and medical facilities, and forced displacement of populations.

In its Order of 26 January 2024,[6] the International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders the State of Israel to do all in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

ICJ Order of 28 March2024 [7] orders the State of Israel to “Take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza […].

By the ICJ Order of May 2024 [8] “The Court considers that, in conformity with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”.

ICJ Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025 provides that Israel must “ensure that the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory has the essential supplies of daily life, including food, water, clothing, bedding, shelter, fuel, medical supplies and services” and “facilitate by all means at its disposal relief schemes on behalf of the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory so long as that population is inadequately supplied, as has been the case in the Gaza Strip”.[9]

Despite the evidence of multiple violations of human rights and international law brought up by the abovementioned institutions, the European Union has still to this date not taken any meaningful action to condemn or to sanction the State of Israel, like, for instance, the suspension of its association agreement with Israel.

Such failure to act is not in line with the EU Treaties themselves : it is clear from the Treaties that all actions and policies of the EU, including international agreements, must contribute to and ensure respect of human rights and international law.

According to Article 3 (5) of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), “In its relations with the wider world, the Union shall uphold and promote its values” […] and “shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples […] and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

In addition, article 21 TEU states that “The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world: democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.”

Article 205 TFEU states that “The Union’s action on the international scene, pursuant to this Part, shall be guided by the principles, pursue the objectives and be conducted in accordance with” the provisions laid down in article 21 TEU mentioned above.

Lastly, article 207 TFEU provides that “The common commercial policy shall be conducted in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action”

The EU’s obligation to act does not stem only from its founding treaties but also from UN treaties and customary international law and the International Court of Justice Orders.

The EU must immediately utilise all available legal, diplomatic and economic means – among which the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement – to force the Israeli government to cease its human rights violations, uphold international law and to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians.

[3] https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/israel_en

[4] https://www.ftm.eu/newsletters/bureau-brussels-eu-funds-israel-defense-sector

[5] European External Action Service, note of the Office of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, 20 June 2025 https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/ar0246a0da

[6] International Court of Justice, Order of 26 January 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203447

[7] International Court of Justice, Order of 28 March 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/node/203847

[8] International Court of Justice, Summary of the Order of 24 may 2024 https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204100#%3A~%3Atext=The+Court+considers+that%2C+in%2Cits+physical+destr uction%20in%20whole

[9] ICJ Advisory Opinion– Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 22 October 2025 https://www.un.org/unispal/document/icj-advisory-opinion-22oct2025/

#palestine #gaza #freepalestine

Why no foreign uprising about Gaza genocide ?

politics, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One person on Mastodon asked why people in Western countries, the countries complicit in the Gaza genocide,
do not rise up and overthrow the regimes.

Very interesting question.

And can I write about this here without getting arrested immediately ?
You never know in this “cool”, former colonist, Netherlands country.
Therefore I’ll keep it polite and “classy”.

My gut feeling not based on facts tells me that this is not feasible in Western Europe.
In South America maybe. In Africa and Asia it’s possible.

And then there’s the mysterious USA.
One wonders what happened to all the bragging gun lovers wanting to defend themselves.
Now that the enemy within, the fascist Trump regime, is destroying parts of USA (with Putin
in Russia laughing” there is still no civil war. Ironically Elon “Nazi salute” Musk who
made hints about civil war in the UK is still influencing millions of people without
any repercussions.

How about the Netherlands (further abbreviated as NL) ?

Since a really long time I have been thinking that the middle class has grown too big,
and too many people have been happy with their TVs, cars, and more recently an
incredible amount of people appear to be married with their phones.

As long if there is not a critical mass of angry people in a country
who want big chances there’s little chance for an uprising.

But in general for uprisings various other ingredients can be important.
For example, a corrupt military.

However, one thing is that mass surveillance is pretty strong in NL.
Cameras everywhere, and climate activists getting arrested for no reason, just
for intimidation.
(With some “funny” exception like diamond stealing. A bunch of guys stole several
diamonds during the day at an exhibition and <checks notes> they got away by
using electric steps, and still not arrested as far as I’ve seen in the news.)
The other thing is that fossil fuels dependency (and possibly lobbying, bribes)
is pretty strong, as well as the “special” relationships with the USA and Israel,
meaning that there’s all kind of companies involved backing the government’s
status quo.

Add to that the massive rise of fascism, with fascism ideas been normalized in
talkshows, newspapers, TV, radio and so on.
Currently the Netherlands has these fascist political parties in the 2nd Chamber :
PVV,FvD,JA21,Groep Markuszo, and the fascist leaning VVD,BBB,SGP.
That’s a scary seven political parties.

Regime change in the Netherlands, whether that is by voting, discrediting
fascists, demonstrations, writing to your MPs and so on, is not realistic
any time soon.

What can do you if you’re in the Netherlands apart from boycotting Israel ?

Take on the fossil fuel, by doing this it basically weakens the power of the
current government.

– Buy a solar panel for your balcony.
If you don’t want to spend money on it start a crowdfunding campaign.

– Experiment with wind energy for small things that need little amount
of energy.

– Stop cooking on gas. Buy a rice-cooker. Eat more raw food and bread.

– Break with the banks that support climate-destruction, war, apartheid.

– Break with health care insurance companies that support
climate-destruction, war, apartheid.

– Urge your city to do more for public transport.

– Start talking about Israel’s apartheid. NL has a history with
apartheid in South-Africa, that is an emotional connections. Lots of
politicians, newspapers and journalists are still very afraid to use the word
genocide in regards to Gaza. Therefore empathize on the word
apartheid. Israel is an apartheid state and NL is shamefully supporting
that very much.

– Ask your work to be allowed to work more from home if you need to
travel by car to your work.

– Donate to projects that will support Palestine, for example
Plant een olijfboom.

– Call out government and complicit people about them falling for the
lobbying by CIDI. If they really stand for all Jews in this world why
is a Jewish group like Een ander Joods geluid every time excluded
from talks with the government ?

– Promote music that is anti-genocide and pro-Palestine, for example
the Irish band Kneecap and Bob Vylan.

– Consider traveling to the West Bank to support Palestine people
against the Zionist settlers violence simply by staying there.

– Follow the Global Sumus Flotilla sailing with more than 100 boats to Gaza
to break the illegal siege.

– Write angry letters to your newspapers about the shameful Israel apartheid
complicity of NL.

– Tell people that the slogan “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will
be free” is not a violent slogan. Go read about the violent Christian Crusades
history and you’ll see the name Palestine. Jews and Palestians have lived
in peace in the past in the same area.

– Share this story.

Boosting is not immediately endorsement. You can boost
a Mastodon post to share ideas, food for thought, food for discussion,
food for change. Go for critical thinking.

Like in the Monty Python movie Life of Brian where Brian from an open window
shouts to the huge crowd outside below “You need to think for yourself!”
(and the crowd, like a unison choir shouts “We need to think for ourselves”).

Critical thinking is something we need more than before in these times
where silence and looking away has become normal for many people.

Free free Palestine!

#freepalestine

On Violence

General, , , , , , ,

For many months I have been wanting to write this. Thinking about it but never started because the whole story did not seem to be finished but now I will just start and write it in parts. My main reason to write this is because of a teacher at university in the Netherlands attacking and pressured for his anti Israel remarks.

So, let’s start :

What is violence ? 

Do you have your own definition of violence ?

Did you learn at school a definition of violence ?

Did you parents, caretakers, family or friends tell you a definition of violence ?

Or did you never think about it and maybe accepted what is happening year by year from the state violence, the only accepted violence ?

Is it violence when polluting companies destroy the planet in slow motion ?

Is it violence to let people live in increasing poverty while the rich get richer ?

Is it violence to exploit minerals in so-called underdeveloped countries and give nothing valuable really in return ?

Is it violence to not punish corrupt politicians and lobby groups ?

Is death penalty, like in some states in the USA, violence ?

Is torture and life sentence violence ?

Is pushing for more cars, more tobacco, more pesticides, more fossil fuel usage, violence ?

Is capitalism violent by nature ?

Let’s look back at the 9/11 Twin Towers attacks. Did you go with the visual impact roller-coaster from the Western mainstream media who were in shock ?

What did I do after those attacks ? I thought about it again and again and while I do condemn the killings of every human being and every needless killing of animals as well, I do see it as a big orchestrated thing, an almost “genius” thing so big that it is hard to believe there was no involvement from three letter secret agencies. And note the symbolism. This was done on September 11, which is also known as 9/11 which is the alarm phone number in the USA. Compare that with the abduction of Maduro of Venezuela on 3rd of January 2026, and then see what happened 3rd of January 1990. A fetish for numbers ? Coincidence ?

The visual impact of the 9/11 attacks wiped out all the past visual impact from the awfull USA past, the countless toppling of country leaders, the countless killings of people abroad and inside the USA. Except that the visual impact and the impact of words was usually diminished by most of mainstream media. In a time that video on mobile phones, TVs and computer possibly had more impact on a lot of people already.

Why mention the 9/11 attacks ? Because I’d like to compare it with the beeper attacks against Hezbollah in the last few years. Again it was a big orchestrated thing that definitely involved Israel’s Mossad. And what was in the mainstream newspapers in the Netherlands ? It looked like journalists were almost not able to suppress their admiration of the genius attack of the enemy. They didn’t mention the word enemy but it is business as usual here. The USA, the supposed self-acclaimed “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave” and “From paperboy to millionaire” worshiping.

The “Palestinian terrorists brutally murdered Israeli soldiers” or “Palestinians killed by air attacks. Israeli prime minister proud” is a choice of words which is considered “normal” in Western media.

And that makes me wonder about what I have been asking myself since years :

What is normal ? 

Is normal a static thing or a dynamic thing that can change one day to the other ?

Nobody every told me what normal is, not at school, not at the family, not with friends.

Yet I have heard parents in the streets snapping at their child in Dutch “Doe normaal!” which is “Behave!”. It is an abstract thing it seems but I guess it simply means “Shut up! Be quiet!”.

Children full of life eventually become introverts because we’re all so busy and in a hurry.

Every day we live in a world full of violence.

Some thinkers and philosophers mention that almost all people are violent because we live in duality, we live with conflict inside. Only very few manage to escape from the duality and break free.

Do we have a lot to learn ?

Do we have time ? Can we free up some time to re-evaluate and do better ?

To be continued, maybe.