We stand firmly against injustice in all its forms. Nothing can justify the current war crimes committed by Israel in occupied Palestine. Equally, nothing can excuse the continued support offered by other nations to this apartheid regime. If you believe in human rights, dignity, and justice, then we urge you to boycott this rogue state. Silence is complicity, do what’s right.
Namibia rejects Germany’s Support of the Genocidal Intent of the Racist Israeli State against Innocent Civilians in Gaza
On Namibian soil, #Germany committed the first genocide of the 20th century in 1904-1908, in which tens of thousands of innocent Namibians died in the most inhumane and brutal conditions. The German Government is yet to fully atone for the genocide it committed on Namibian soil. Therefore, in light of Germany’s inability to draw lessons from its horrific history, President @hagegeingob expresses deep concern with the shocking decision communicated by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany yesterday, 12 January 2024, in which it rejected the morally upright indictment brought forward by South Africa before the #InternationalCourtofJustice that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in #Gaza.
Worryingly, ignoring the violent deaths of over 23 000 Palestinians in Gaza and various United Nations reports disturbingly highlighting the internal displacement of 85% of civilians in Gaza amid acute shortages of food and essential services, the German Government has chosen to defend in the International Court of Justice the genocidal and gruesome acts of the Israeli Government against innocent civilians in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza. Various international organizations, such as Human Rights Watch have chillingly concluded that Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza.
President Geingob reiterates his call made on 31 December 2023, “No peace-loving human being can ignore the carnage waged against Palestinians in Gaza”. In that vein, President Geingob appeals to the German Government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third-party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of Israel before the International Court of Justice.
Intel report says some accusations that aid workers participated in Hamas attacks credible but could not be independently verified
A US intelligence assessment of Israel’s claims that UN aid agency staff members participated in the Hamas attack on 7 October said some of the accusations were credible, though could not be independently verified, while also casting doubt on claims of wider links to militant groups.
The assault precipitated a full-scale invasion by Israel of Gaza that has killed upwards of 30,000 Palestinians. Earlier this year, Israel accused 12 employees of the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) of participating in the 7 October attacks alongside Hamas. It also said 10% of all UNRWA workers were affiliated with Hamas.
The bombshell accusation led several countries, including the US, to cut off funding for the agency, which was a crucial vehicle for getting aid to Gaza in what has widely been described as a humanitarian crisis.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the intelligence report, released last week, assessed with “low confidence” that a handful of staff had participated in the attack, indicating that it considered the accusations to be credible though it could not independently confirm their veracity.
It cast doubt, however, on accusations that the UN agency was collaborating with Hamas in a wider way. The Journal said the report mentioned that although the UNRWA does coordinate with Hamas in order to deliver aid and operate in the region, there was a lack of evidence to suggest it partnered with the group.
It added that Israel has not “shared the raw intelligence behind its assessments with the US”.
In addition, the report notes Israel’s dislike towards the UNRWA, two sources familiar with it told the Journal. “There is a specific section that mentions how Israeli bias serves to mischaracterize much of their assessments on UNRWA and says this has resulted in distortions,” one source reportedly said.
The four-page report by the National Intelligence Council was circulated across US government officials last week, the Journal reported. Established in 1979, the NIC comprises senior and veteran intelligence analysts who work alongside US policymakers on American policy.
Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, said in January that Israel’s accusations were “highly, highly credible”. Nine of the staff accused were sacked by the head of agency, who said he followed “reverse due process” in doing so. Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of the UNRWA, told a press conference in Jerusalem earlier in February that he had not investigated the evidence before the firing.
“I could have suspended them, but I have fired them. And now I have an investigation, and if the investigation tells us that this was wrong, in that case at the UN we will take a decision on how to properly compensate [them],” he said.
On Wednesday, Lazzarini told Haaretz that the agency was asking Israel to “fully cooperate to provide the evidence to the investigation team”.
Pointing to Israel’s claims that about 10% of the UNRWA’s workers are affiliated with Hamas, Lazzarini told the outlet: “I read in the newspapers about 190 or 1,200 [employees] we have not been notified [about] … We do not have this information, we do not know where this information is coming [from], we do not know if it is an estimate. We do not know if it is just speculation.”
With around 2 million Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israel’s attacks on Gaza since 7 October, the majority of survivors have been seeking refuge in Rafah. As Palestinians grapple with severe shortages of food, water, fuel and medical aid, the UN has warned of a looming public health disaster.
“We have completely geared from what I would [call] the traditional public-like services provided to the Palestinian refugees and a human development type of activities to an emergency type of response which is primarily lifesaving – how to help people find a shelter,” Lazzarini told Haaretz.
“We’re trying to keep our primary health care system afloat as much as possible in order that people do not overcrowd the hospitals that are overflowing with what I would call primary war surgery.”
Meanwhile, a separate UN report released on Monday by a group of UN experts expressed alarm over “credible allegations” of Palestinian women and girls being subjected to “multiple forms of sexual assault … by male Israeli army officers”.
The allegations include rape and detention of Palestinian women in cages, in addition to “photos of female detainees in degrading circumstances … reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online”.
“We remind the government of Israel of its obligation to uphold the right to life, safety, health, and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subjected to violence, torture, ill-treatment or degrading treatment, including sexual violence,” the UN experts said.
Discrimination and racism are global issues that affect societies in various ways, and Israeli apartheid is no exception. The apartheid entity of Israel is home to a diverse population, including Jewish citizens of different ethnic backgrounds, Palestinian citizens, and other minority groups. However, systemic disparities and social prejudices have contributed to significant discrimination and racism, particularly impacting Palestinian citizens, Ethiopian Jews, and asylum seekers. This paper will explore the historical context, contemporary manifestations, and implications of these inequalities in Israel.
Historical Context
The roots of discrimination in Israeli apartheid can be traced back to the formation of the entity in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the Israeli occupation. This event, known as the Nakba (“catastrophe”), marked the beginning of systemic disparities between Jewish and Palestinian populations within Israeli apartheid. Palestinian citizens, who make up about 20% of Israel’s population, were granted citizenship but often faced restrictive laws and social exclusion.
Discrimination has also been present within Jewish communities. During the 1950s and 1960s, Jews who immigrated from Middle Eastern and North African countries, known as Mizrahi Jews, encountered significant prejudice from the predominantly European (Ashkenazi) leadership. Although their situation has improved over time, echoes of this discrimination persist in socio-economic and educational disparities.
Discrimination Against Palestinian Citizens
Palestinian citizens of Israel face numerous challenges in comparison to their Jewish counterparts. These disparities are evident in areas such as education, employment, housing, and political representation.
1. Education and Employment: Schools in predominantly Palestinian communities are often underfunded, leading to lower educational outcomes compared to those in Jewish areas. Consequently, this impacts job opportunities and economic mobility for Palestinian citizens. Reports indicate that Palestinian citizens are underrepresented in high-income professions and have a higher unemployment rate compared to Jewish citizens.
2. Housing and Infrastructure: Housing policies have historically marginalized Palestinian communities. Government initiatives have focused on expanding illegal Jewish settlements while neglecting Palestinian towns and villages, resulting in inadequate infrastructure, limited access to public services, and overcrowding.
3. Political Representation: Although Palestinian citizens can vote and run for office, they often face political marginalization. The political discourse in Israeli apartheid can include rhetoric that delegitimizes Palestinian parties and politicians, contributing to a climate of exclusion.
Racism Against Ethiopian Jews
Ethiopian Jews, who began immigrating to Israel in the late 20th century through operations such as “Operation Moses” and “Operation Solomon,” have encountered systemic racism and discrimination. Despite their Jewish heritage, Ethiopian immigrants have faced obstacles in integration, including:
– Police Violence and Profiling: Ethiopian-Israeli communities have reported higher rates of police brutality and racial profiling. High-profile cases have sparked protests demanding justice and reform.
– Social and Economic Barriers: Ethiopian Jews often find themselves in lower-income brackets and face difficulties in accessing quality education and employment, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.
The Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Migrant Workers
Asylum seekers, primarily from African countries such as Eritrea and Sudan, have faced significant discrimination in Israeli apartheid. Policies aimed at deterring their entry and residency include prolonged detention, limited work permits, and restrictions on movement. These individuals live under constant threat of deportation, and their access to basic rights, such as healthcare and legal protection, is restricted.
Institutional Racism and Policies
Critics argue that certain laws and policies reinforce structural racism within Israeli apartheid. For example, the ‘Nation-State Law’ of 2018, which defines Israeli apartheid as the nation-state of the Jewish people, has been seen as marginalizing non-Jewish citizens by prioritizing Jewish heritage and symbols over a multi-ethnic identity.
Implications and Moving Forward
The ongoing discrimination and racism within Israeli apartheid have significant social and political implications. Social cohesion is strained when segments of the population feel excluded and marginalized. Addressing these challenges requires:
– Ending the illegal occupation of Palestine
-Policy Reforms and ending of all apartheid activities. Ensuring equal funding for Palestinian and Jewish schools, promoting fair housing policies, and combating discrimination in employment.
– Community Engagement: Initiatives that foster dialogue and cooperation between different ethnic and religious communities can build mutual understanding and reduce tensions.
– Legal Protections: Strengthening anti-discrimination laws and promoting accountability in cases of racial and ethnic bias.
Discrimination and racism in Israeli apartheid manifest through complex historical, social, and political dynamics that impact various communities, including Palestinian citizens, Ethiopian Jews, and asylum seekers. Addressing these issues is crucial for fostering equality, social stability, and true democratic principles. While progress has been made in some areas, substantial efforts are needed to bridge these gaps and promote a more inclusive society.
The resilience of the Palestinians in their ancestral land of Palestine can’t be overcome, not even by the formidable Israeli-American military might. Their unwavering bravery and fight for freedom and justice are inherent traits passed down through generations.
Propaganda has historically been used by state actors to shape narratives, justify policies, and consolidate power. The Nazi regime under Joseph Goebbels provides one of the most extreme examples, using propaganda to dehumanize Jewish people and lay the groundwork for the Holocaust. In modern times, the Israeli occupation of Palestine
led by its leaders starting from David Ben-Gurion and ending with Benjamin Netanyahu has involved propaganda efforts that serve to influence public perception and justify Israeli oppressive and genocidal actions. This paper examines these cases to understand how propaganda can be wielded as a tool of oppression and what lessons can be drawn to promote peace and human rights.
Mechanisms of Propaganda: Parallels and Contrasts
1. The Use of Media and Messaging
Nazi Germany leveraged all forms of media—radio, film, newspapers, and rallies—to propagate messages of racial purity and demonize Jewish people. Simplistic slogans, repeated endlessly, imprinted anti-Semitic beliefs in the public consciousness.
In the Israeli apartheid context, media outlets and political rhetoric have been systematically used to shape perceptions of Palestinians. Mainstream Israeli narratives in addition to western medial like BBC , sky news and CNN and many others often falsely frame Palestinians as aggressors or security threats, which can overshadow their experiences of genocide , ethnic cleaning and daily settlers’ terrorism. The repetition of such messages helps reinforce certain stereotypes and justify stringent security measures.
2. Dehumanization and Scapegoating
A critical aspect of Nazi propaganda was the dehumanization of Jewish people, portraying them as subhuman and responsible for Germany’s economic and social problems. This dehumanization made the broader public more complicit in or indifferent to discriminatory policies and mass violence.
Similarly, in many Israeli political and media narratives, Palestinians are depicted as animals, inherently violent or linked to terrorism meanwhile ignoring the illegal Israeli occupation and systematic theft of their land. Such depictions can desensitize populations to the suffering of Palestinians and justify genocide, ethnic cleansing, illegal settlements, and racist policies.
3. Suppression and Control of Alternative Narratives
The Nazis maintained strict control over media and censored dissenting voices to prevent challenges to their ideology. Independent press was eliminated, and any information countering Nazi beliefs was banned.
In the modern Israeli apartheid entity, significant pressure and intimidation and threats and restrictions can still be applied. For instance, Palestinian journalists and media outlets have reported countless of cases of censorship, restrictions, and challenges in bringing their perspectives to international attention. During the Gaza genocide Israeli occupation army targeted and killed more than 188 journalists and banned Al Jazeera from reporting from occupied Palestine. This Zionist control shapes the narrative that reaches both domestic and international audiences.
Lessons and the Path Forward
The lessons from Nazi propaganda underscore the dangers of dehumanization, unchecked narratives, and scapegoating. These elements contribute to environments where oppression and violence are normalized. The Zionist apartheid , though distinct in context, shows how similar tools can foster division, justify oppressive actions, and hinder peace.
Promoting Truth and Reconciliation:
• Media Literacy: Encouraging critical examination of media sources and understanding biases can help mitigate the impact of propaganda.
• Amplifying Diverse Voices: Supporting independent journalism and ensuring diverse perspectives are represented can create a more balanced understanding of complex issues.
• Policy Accountability: Holding leaders accountable for rhetoric that dehumanizes or scapegoats groups is essential to preventing escalation and fostering coexistence.
Conclusion
While the context of Nazi Germany and the Zionist Israeli apartheid differs in some aspects, the use of propaganda to dehumanize, scapegoat, and suppress dissent bears notable parallels. Recognizing and addressing these mechanisms is vital for promoting peace, understanding, and human rights. Learning from history, societies must remain vigilant against the narratives that perpetuate division and strive for a more just and empathetic world.
Israel’s reputation in the world steadily declines to that of a non-grata state, credit rating has dropped, the poverty index and the cost of living are flourishing, overloaded public services are collapsing, and the government (regime) is scratching its back while blaming everyone for the situation.
More than 130 prisoners are still in Gaza, and their families are consumed with lies, manipulations, and humiliations. Settlers of the northern and western Negev are refugees in their “own [occupied] land” and don’t know when they will return home, if there is a home left. In Gaza, there millions hungry and tens of thousands dead, most of them uninvolved, including 12,000 children – but Hamas is still alive and kicking; and every day, more israeli soldiers return in coffins to families whose world has collapsed.
In October 2023, I proudly wore my Star of David necklace to an emergency rally for Gaza, but a year later I could no longer wear it. Israel has made it impossible to divorce this symbol from the unfathomable devastation carried out under its banner.
A SHUTTERED PALESTINIAN SHOP IN HEBRON CLOSED DOWN BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY THAT WAS VANDALIZED WITH A STAR OF DAVID, AN ANCIENT JEWISH SYMBOL ADOPTED BY THE ISRAELI STATE AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL. (PHOTO: LAUREN SURFACE/MONDOWEISS)
A few weeks ago in downtown Toronto, I watched a group of Zionist Jews come across a car decorated for Diwali. The car was covered in flower and candle decorations, as well as some Hindu symbology. Aghast at noticing a swastika amidst the decorations, this group became irate and began yelling about blatant antisemitism. I wondered if they knew the relationship between this symbol and the Hindu religion, but I doubted they would care if they did. Despite its origins (and different orientation) in Buddhist and Hindu culture, for many today the swastika is synonymous with Nazism. For myself, knowing the history of this symbol does not mitigate the visceral response I feel to seeing a swastika.
On October 29, a man in Oakland, California was kicked out of the Jerusalem Coffee House by the owner for wearing a blue baseball cap with a white star of David on it. Police are now investigating the incident as an antisemitic hate crime. Was it antisemitic to ask this man to leave? Maybe. Yet no one is asking a bigger question about this incident- why did this man feel it appropriate to walk into a Palestinian coffee shop wearing a hat so closely mirroring the flag of Israel? Did he not expect to elicit a visceral response from the very people being slaughtered in the name of this flag? Do Palestinians who have watched the death and destruction of their homeland carried out under this symbol not have the right to be offended by it?
In Canada, the Zionist lobby has spent the past year decrying any appearance of the Star of David within the pro-Palestine movement. From social media posts to protest signs, they have claimed that depicting this star in anything critical of Israel is antisemitic and equates the entire Jewish people with the State of Israel. Yet, this lobby and the state of Israel have themselves worked tirelessly to conflate Judaism and Israel. Beyond putting the star in the middle of the Israeli flag, the Centre for Israeli and Jewish Affairs has also put the star in its logo. B’nai Brith Canada uses the Jewish symbol of the menorah in its logo. When Zionists themselves begin appropriating Jewish symbolism, the distinction between Judaism and Israel becomes blurred.
ISRAELI TANKS CARVE A STAR OF DAVID INTO A FIELD IN GAZA DURING ISRAEL’S ONGOING GROUND INVASION OF GAZA. THIS PHOTO WAS SHARED BY DANIEL HAGARI ON THE @IDFSPOKESPERSON X/TWITTER ACCOUNT ON NOVEMBER 17, 2023.
Perhaps more than anyone, it is Israel itself that is appropriating Jewish symbols for fascist purposes. As a genocide continues in Gaza, the Israeli army celebrates this devastation by carving or spray painting the Star of David into demolished buildingsand neighborhoods. When spray paint falls short, soldiers and police brand and carve this symbol on Palestinians themselves. The co-optation of this symbol for terror is most evident in the West Bank. Palestinian cities and neighborhoods are often vandalized by settler youth who spray paint the star and accompanying fascist slogans over Palestinian murals and on flags. When settlers are finally able to displace these Palestinians from their villages, a star or menorah is frequently placed on top of this ethnically cleansed land.
On October 9, 2023, I proudly wore my Star of David necklace at the emergency rally for Gaza. I wanted people to know unmistakably that I was Jewish and still pro-Palestine. At the rally on October 5, 2024 marking one year of genocide in Gaza, my necklace instead featured the ‘chai’ symbol. I am no longer seeking to redeem and reclaim the Star of David.
Like the swastika, there is nothing wrong with the star in and of itself; this symbol existed before Israel and will exist after Israel’s demise. Yet, this symbol which was once an integral part of how I show my identity, is now synonymous with the cruelty and evil of the Zionist regime. When Palestinians look at this symbol, which has been used to represent Jewish supremacy and Palestinian destruction, they do not feel a distinction between this symbol when it is blue and in between two stripes or if it is gold and around my neck. Both represent the destruction of the Palestinian people.
While discussing the incident in Oakland on social media, Mohammed El Kurd makes the same argument that the Star of David is now a hate symbol, whether Jews like it or not. Peter Beinart responded by saying the symbol is a Jewish symbol that exists outside of Israel’s appropriation of it and thus criticizing the Star of David is in fact a condemnation of Judaism. I agree it is not the fault of Jews that Israel has decided to use our symbol as the logo for their fascist regime. However, we are not absolved of the current weight of these symbols and we should not fault Palestinians for their visceral emotions when they see these symbols.
During my most recent trip to the West Bank, some local children were scouring my belongings for potential gifts. Finding the Magen David necklace I wore through customs, a girl turned to me and said: “oh so you love Israel?” No! I vehemently responded. They giggled and asked why I have their symbol on my necklace? At first I tried to explain that this is a symbol of Jewish people, not the State of Israel. But I quickly trailed off. For Palestinians who know nothing of Judaism aside from its role in oppression and ethnic cleansing, this star symbolizes harm, destruction, and hate. I had specifically removed it when entering Palestine because I knew it was triggering to see.
In North America, the Jewish community is given special consideration during Diwali because of the use of the swastika and its associations with Nazi Germany and white supremacist movements. Palestinians must be afforded the same consideration when Jewish people choose to display the Star of David which has now become associated with the Gaza genocide and Israeli apartheid. Israel has made it impossible to divorce this symbol from the unfathomable devastation carried out under its banner. Israel has turned the Star of David into a symbol of supremacy and fascism. I refuse to associate myself and my Judaism with Israel and all it represents. That is why I am no longer wearing a Jewish star.
The NYT, BBC, CNN, among others emphasized the attacks on Israeli fans, while minimizing the anti-Arab racism that seemingly provoked much of the violence.
Maccabi Tel Aviv fans stage a pro-Israel demonstration ahead of the UEFA Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Nov. 7, 2024. Photo by Mouneb Taim/Anadolu via Getty Images
When violence erupted around a soccer match in Amsterdam this week between fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch club Ajax, Western media outlets rushed to frame it mostly as an antisemitic attack on Israeli fans. But a closer examination of the coverage reveals troubling patterns in how racial violence is reported; not only is anti-Arab violence and racism marginalized and minimized, but violence against Israelis is amplified and reduced to antisemitism.
Consider this paradox: The New York Timesran the headline, “Israeli soccer fans injured in attacks linked to antisemitism in Amsterdam,” but the body article contained only verified evidence of anti-Arab racism. Its lede emphasized antisemitic motivation, while the body of the article cited footage by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans chanting anti-Arab and racist slogans – footage that the New York Times had actually verified. The only basis at the time for claiming antisemitism came from a single tweet by the Dutch prime minister, while the linked Amsterdam police’s own statement made no such attribution (subsequent police statements did condemn “antisemitic behavior”).
The New York Times was not alone in minimizing Israeli fan violence and anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism. Other mainstream outlets like NBC, CBS, CNN, and the BBC, all ran almost identical headlines that read like Israeli press releases, emphasizing that Israelis had been “attacked.”
The language was incendiary, suggesting that there had been some one-sided planned ethnic cleansing of Amsterdam. President Isaac Herzog used the word “pogrom” to describe what happened, a loaded term that was then picked up by other commentators. Reuters used the phrase “antisemitic attack squads,” while the Telegraph quoted the Dutch king in its headline, leading with “We failed Jews during football attacks as we did under Nazis.” The invocation of Nazism did not stop there, the US-based Anti-Defamation League emphasized that the attacks happened on the night before the anniversary of Kristallnacht in 1938. One commentator posted a photo of Anne Frank. Subscribe
Despite no Israelis being killed, a media system loathe to use the term genocide to describe the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians seemed happy to use terminology redolent of the Holocaust. Suddenly, incidents of soccer hooliganism and anti-Israeli violence seemingly provoked by anti-Arab racism were being reduced to antisemitic pogroms.
Burying the Lede
Buried or omitted in most accounts was verified evidence of anti-Arab racism that had occurred prior to these events, including footage of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans tearing down Palestinian flags, attacking taxi drivers, and chanting explicitly racist slogans like “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF fuck the Arabs.”
So marginalized were stories attempting to explain violence from Maccabi Tel Aviv fans that one Amsterdam resident took to social media to call out the media bias. She described hiding in fear as Israeli supporters attacked her home for displaying a Palestinian flag, stating in Dutch, “I hardly see anything in the media about my experience – that letting loose agitated football hooligans with war traumas, from a country that commits genocide and engages in extreme dehumanization, in the city *regardless of whether there are counter-protests* is not a good idea.”
This demotion of non-Israeli experiences and suffering in the media was evident in other outlets such as the Washington Post and Channel 4 News. On Instagram, their headlines emphasized the attacks on Israeli fans. Only in the accompanying text did they clarify the context, with Channel 4 news writing “that Maccabi Tel Aviv fans were involved in two days of violence in the city, including footage of them singing anti-Arab and racist chants.”
Minimizing anti-Arab racism and the provocations by Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was not subtle. The BBC’s extensive live blog of the unfolding events quoted 13 Israeli and Jewish sources while allowing just one or two alternative perspectives. Injuries to Israeli fans received detailed documentation and personal accounts, while the impact of racist abuse on local Arab and Muslim residents went largely unexplored.
My snap quantitative analysis of the BBC’s live coverage reveals the stark imbalance.
Marc Owen Jones, Associate Professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, is an award-winning expert on disinformation, media analytics and Middle East politics. His latest book is titled ‘Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East’.
Posted inMedia, Palestinian history|TaggedAmsterdam, Bbc|Comments Off on Innocent Israelis, Bad Arabs? How the Media Scripted Amsterdam’s Soccer Violence
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party and former Director of Public Prosecutions, has cultivated an image of integrity, moderation, and unity within British politics. Yet, for many observers, his leadership is marked by contradictions that challenge the trust he once inspired among voters and party members alike. This article examines the tactics that Starmer has used to shape public perception and the ways in which these approaches have sparked accusations of deception.
Broken Promises and Policy Reversals
During the Labour leadership race in 2020, Starmer positioned himself as the heir to the progressive momentum built by his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn. His pledges included upholding public ownership of key services, increasing taxes on the wealthy, supporting a Green New Deal, endorsing ceasefire in Gaza and recognising the state of Palestine. These commitments resonated with the party’s left-wing base and were seen as a promise to continue advocating for transformative policies.
His shameless lie about unconditional support for Israel to siege and starve 2.5 million people in Gaza was perceived as the most heinous crime a human right lawyer and a politician may commit during their political career. Starmer’s crime of enabling starvation and genocide will be subject to the international court of justice for ensuring justice is served for Gaza victims.
After assuming leadership, Starmer began to distance himself from these pledges. Notably, the Labour Party under his guidance has shown a more cautious approach to public spending, dropped its commitment to nationalization of certain industries, and reframed discussions around tax policy. He refused the public demand to stop arms sales to Israel, did not condemn Gaza genocide nor recognised the Palestinian state. However he was one of the first politicians to condemn the clash between pro Palestinian protestors and racist Israeli hooligans in Amsterdam and described the event as a pogrom despite the fact that nobody was killed or seriously injured comparing with his silence towards the death of 43500 Palestinians killed by Israel. These changes have led to accusations of duplicity, with critics arguing that Starmer’s rhetoric during his leadership campaign was designed to court progressive members only to pivot to a more centrist stance once in power.
Suppressing Internal Dissent
and The Cost of Shifting Sands
A significant part of Starmer’s strategy involves maintaining tight control over party messaging and internal dynamics. This approach has included disciplinary actions against members and MPs who dissent from the leadership’s line to date to support ceasefire in Gaza and stop arming Israeli occupation army.
Starmer’s leadership reflects political pragmatism, adapting to changing landscapes. While this has made Labour more electable, it has also sown mistrust among those who feel misled. The challenge for Starmer is proving that his evolving positions are driven by principles and not mere political calculation. Until then, the perception of deception will continue to shadow his leadership.
A SHUTTERED PALESTINIAN SHOP IN HEBRON CLOSED DOWN BY THE ISRAELI MILITARY THAT WAS VANDALIZED WITH A STAR OF DAVID, AN ANCIENT JEWISH SYMBOL ADOPTED BY THE ISRAELI STATE AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL. (PHOTO: LAUREN SURFACE/MONDOWEISS)
