Archive | 2024/08/25

Eskalacja na Bliskim Wschodzie: Izraelczycy bombardują w Libanie, Hezbollah odpowiada ostrzałem

Skutki izraelskiego nalotu na miasto Sidon w południowym Libanie,


Eskalacja na Bliskim Wschodzie: Izraelczycy bombardują w Libanie, Hezbollah odpowiada ostrzałem

Marta Urzędowska


Izraelska armia zaatakowała tereny w południowym Libanie, Hezbollah posłał na Izrael potężną serię rakiet – trwa groźna eskalacja na izraelsko-libańskiej granicy, która grozi regionalną wojną. Izraelski resort obrony: Wydarzenia w Libanie ważniejsze niż w Gazie

Informację o ostrzelaniu Doliny Bekaa na południu Libanu potwierdza izraelska armia. Jak informuje jej rzecznik, Daniel Hagari, izraelskie bombowce uderzyły w środę w składy broni Hezbollahu, budynki wojskowe i wyrzutnię rakiet. Według libańskiego ministerstwa zdrowia w nalotach zginęła jedna osoba, a 30 zostało rannych, wśród nich – dziewięcioro dzieci.

W odpowiedzi Hezbollah przypuścił potężny atak na Izrael. Ponad 50 rakiet i dronów poleciało w kierunku okupowanych przez Izrael Wzgórz Golan, uderzyło w miejscowe budynki, w tym domy mieszkalne. Jedna osoba została ranna.

Wojna w Gazie od początku nie była wyłącznie lokalna. Hamas ma wsparcie Hezbollahu, który od października regularnie prowadzi ostrzał terenów północnego Izraela. W efekcie od października w Libanie zginęło już ponad 530 osób, wśród nich co najmniej 130 cywilów. W Izraelu liczba ofiar wyniosła 49 osób, spośród których 26 to cywile. Blisko 200 tys. osób mieszkających o obu stronach granicy musiało opuścić swoje domy.

Choć konflikt Izraela z Hamasem od początku groził rozlaniem się na inne kraje regionu, eskalacja nigdy nie była tak groźna, jak dziś. Napięcia rosną od końca lipca, kiedy Izraelczycy zabili w Iranie szefa politbiura Hamasu Ismaila Haniję i wysokiej rangi dowódcę Hezbollahu Fuada Szukra. Od tego czasu Iran i Hezbollah grożą Izraelczykom odwetem, przy czym podkreślają, że mogą go dokonać nawet z dużym opóźnieniem.

We wtorek izraelski minister obrony Joaw Gallant, przemawiając do żołnierzy, przyznał, że „środek ciężkości” działań izraelskiej armii stopniowo przesuwa się z Gazy na libańską granicę.

– Atakowanie magazynów amunicji w Libanie to przygotowanie na wszystko, co może się wydarzyć – stwierdził.

Izrael zrealizuje w całości swój plan

Ostatnia wymiana ciosów na granicy Izraela z Libanem przypada w czasie, kiedy trwają gorączkowe próby doprowadzenia do rozejmu w Gazie. Zaledwie kilka godzin przed izraelskim ostrzałem celów Hezbollahu, prezydent USA, Joe Biden, rozmawiał przez telefon z premierem Izraela Beniaminem Netanjahu. W rozmowie brała też udział Kamala Harris, zastępczyni Bidena i kandydatka Demokratów na prezydentkę w nadchodzących wyborach.

Biden przekonywał Netanjahu, jak ważne jest dogadanie się z Hamasem w sprawie zawieszenia broni i zwolnienia pozostających w Gazie izraelskich zakładników. Jednak ostatnia runda negocjacji w ostatnich dniach zakończyła się impasem, nie pomogła nawet kolejna wizyta Antony’ego Blinkena w regionie.

Obu stronom najtrudniej dogadać się w sprawie obecności izraelskich żołnierzy w Gazie po wojnie. Hamas chce, żeby wszyscy wrócili do domu, Izraelczycy powtarzają, że zostawią swoje siły na południu enklawy, przy granicy z Egiptem. „Izrael będzie nalegał na osiągnięcie wszystkich swoich celów w tej wojnie, w tym upewnienia się, że Gaza już nigdy nie będzie stanowiła zagrożenia dla bezpieczeństwa Izraela” – brzmi najnowsze oświadczenie kancelarii premiera.

W Gazie nie ustają walki. Izraelscy ortodoksi nie chcą do armii

W czasie gdy świat próbuje namówić walczące strony do pokoju, sytuacja w Strefie Gazy pozostaje dramatyczna. Jak podaje miejscowe ministerstwo zdrowia, tylko w ciągu ostatniej doby w izraelskich nalotach zginęło ponad 50 osób.

Izraelska armia potwierdza, że bombowce uderzyły w ok. 30 celów w różnych miejscach enklawy, w tym w tunele, miejsca odpalania rakiet i punkty obserwacyjne. Udało się zabić kilkudziesięciu uzbrojonych terrorystów, przejąć broń i materiały wybuchowe.

W środę w Izraelu setki skrajnie ortodoksyjnych Żydów protestowało w Jerozolimie przeciwko obowiązkowej służbie wojskowej. Starli się z policją, która musiała użyć armatek wodnych, by rozpędzić tłum. Pięć osób aresztowano. Izraelska armia prowadzi pobór ortodoksów od zeszłego miesiąca, po tym, jak Sąd Najwyższy w czerwcu zdecydował się skończyć z wyłączaniem ich ze służby.

Ortodoksi argumentują, że nie mogą walczyć, bo muszą zajmować się studiowaniem Tory, co jest równie ważne, jak dbanie o bezpieczeństwo Izraela.

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Israel attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon, preempting ‘extensive attack’

Israel attacks Hezbollah in Lebanon, preempting ‘extensive attack’

update desk | Israel at War


The terror organization launched more than 150 projectiles at Israel from Lebanon, the Israeli military said. The Israeli defense minister and U.S. defense secretary spoke.

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An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet takes off from the Ovda Airbase in southern Israel, Nov. 25, 2013. Photo by Ofer Zidon/Flash90.

The Israeli military attacked sites preemptively in Lebanon, from which Hezbollah planned to launch rockets and missiles at Israel in an “extensive attack,” early in the morning on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Hezbollah subsequently launched more than 150 projectiles at the Jewish state from Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces stated. “We target terrorist infrastructure, they target civilians,” it said.

“Israel’s preemptive attack was aimed at missile launchers in Lebanon that had been programmed to be fired at 5 a.m. in the direction of Tel Aviv,” the New York Times reported, citing a western intelligence official, who “said that all the launchers that were targeted were destroyed and that Israel was anticipating a harsh response from Hezbollah.”

Israel’s strike followed “more than 6,700 rockets, missiles and explosive (drones) fired by Hezbollah at Israeli families, homes and communities since Oct. 8,” IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated.

Israel could see that Hezbollah was about to launch an “extensive attack” on the Jewish state, endangering the Lebanese civilians among whom the terror group embeds its weapons, Hagari added.

He told Lebanese civilians to vacate the areas in which Hezbollah is operating, as the terror group risks escalating conflict in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meet at the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Aug. 25, 2024. Credit: Ma’ayan Toaf (GPO).

“Israel will not tolerate Hezbollah’s attacks on our civilians,” he said. “We are operating in self-defense from Hezbollah. … We are ready to do everything—everything—we need to defend the people of Israel.”

Hezbollah reportedly stated that its attack was in response to Israel killing its top commander Fuad Shukr last month.

Video circulating online purporting to depict Israel’s strike showed massive explosions lighting up the night sky in Lebanon, and Iron Dome interceptions over Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had met, and Netanyahu plans to convene the security cabinet at 7 a.m. local time, per his office.

Gallant called a “special situation on the home front,” a “declaration on the state of emergency (that) enables the IDF to issue instructions to the citizens of Israel, including limiting gatherings and closing sites where it may be relevant,” per the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meet at the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Aug. 25, 2024. Credit: Ariel Hermoni/Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Gallant and U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin had also spoken on Sunday Israel time, shortly before midnight in Washington, according to the Israeli Defense Ministry.

“We have conducted precise strikes in Lebanon in order to thwart an imminent threat against the citizens of Israel,” Gallant said, per an Israeli readout of the call. “We are closely following developments in Beirut, and we are determined to use all the means at our disposal in order to defend our citizens.”

Gallant and Austin “discussed the importance of avoiding regional escalation,” and Gallant “emphasized that Israel’s defense establishment is determined to defend the citizens of Israel and will use all the means at its disposal to remove imminent threats,” per the Israeli readout. “The defense establishment is following developments in Beirut and is prepared to deploy defensive and offensive means.”

U.S. President Joe Biden “is closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon,” stated Sean Savett, a spokesman for the National Security Council. “He has been engaged with his national security team throughout the evening.”

“At his direction, senior U.S. officials have been communicating continuously with their Israeli counterparts,” Savett added. “We will keep supporting Israel’s right to defend itself, and we will keep working for regional stability.”

Ben Gurion International Airport was reportedly closed amid the attacks.

“Since Oct. 7, Hezbollah has been firing rockets against Israel, displacing up to 100,000 Israelis from their homes and communities—an unacceptable loss of sovereignty that no other country, including our own, would ever accept,” stated Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.).

“Israel is no exception to the rule of self-defense,” Torres said. “The Jewish state has a right to respond to the relentless rocket-fire from Hezbollah, which stands as the most heavily armed terrorist organization in the world and the most powerful proxy for the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“In addition to responding to 10 months of relentless rocket fire, Israel is acting on the basis of U.S.-Israeli intelligence revealing an imminent major attack from Hezbollah,” he added. “Hence the need for an Israeli strike that is both preemptive and defensive all at once.”

Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, stated that “Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets at Israel since Oct. 7.”

“Israel could not sit back and wait for thousands more to be fired into Israel, so tonight it struck preemptively to protect innocent civilians,” he added. “Israel has the right to defend itself and the obligation to protect its citizens in the face of ongoing Hezbollah attacks.”


This is a developing story.


הרמטכ״ל, רב-אלוף הרצי הלוי, מפקד על פעולות ההתקפה וההגנה מהבור בקריה, ומקיים הערכת מצב מתמשכת עם חברי פורום המטכ״ל, חיל האוויר, פיקוד הצפון ואגף המודיעין pic.twitter.com/c7lAGtoct2

— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) August 25, 2024


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VP of Canada’s Largest Union Ignores Increased Demands to Resign After Being Accused of Antisemitism

VP of Canada’s Largest Union Ignores Increased Demands to Resign After Being Accused of Antisemitism

Shiryn Ghermezian


CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. Photo: YouTube screenshot

The general vice president of Canada’s largest union said on Thursday that he will not resign despite demands from the union’s national executive board and a growing number of members that he step down for posting a video on Facebook in early August that has been widely viewed as antisemitic.

“Because I respect the democracy of our union, the choice of our members, I will be here to continue to fight side by side with all of you,” Fred Hahn said in a lengthy statement sent to members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which has 750,000 members.

In a motion passed on Tuesday, CUPE’s national executive board said it “lost confidence” in Hahn’s ability to lead the union as general vice president after he shared a Facebook video on Aug. 11. The clip, which has since been deleted, showed a diver with a Star of David tattoo at the 2024 Olympic Games jumping off a diving board before turning into a bomb that exploded on civilians. The video ended with a message that said, “The athletes of the olympic team of Isreal [sic] has participated in the genocide of the Palestinians as they were a part of the IDF. Shame on them. Shame on the sports. Shame on the world.”

The CUPE leader apologized for his Facebook video on Aug. 18, but doubled down on his criticism of Israel and support for Palestinians in his statement on Thursday. He talked about being an “advocate for the cause of Palestine” and pointed out that he has been repeatedly targeted, “labeled antisemitic and vilified” for “expressing the views of our members in support for Palestine and against genocide.”

Hahn said although CUPE’s board wants him to resign, “because I respect the democracy of our union … the members should decide.” He said demands for his resignation have made him “so sad and so angry.”

“Trade unionists I have come to know and respect voted this week to overturn the democratic decisions of CUPE members,” he noted. “It is unprecedented in our union’s history and I’m worried countless CUPE members who are active in the Palestinian solidarity movement could be left more vulnerable and exposed by the precedent as they face similar situations as work.” He also rejected claims that he is antisemitic.

Hahn — who is the first openly gay labour leader in Ontario, according to the CUPE website — has been vocal about his anti-Israel stance in the past. A day after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, he applauded “the power of resistance” in a post on X/Twitter. He also retweeted a message that said, “Palestine is rising, long live the resistance.” Hahn, who has been a member of CUPE since 1991, has also supported Palestinian efforts to stop Canada from aiding Israel during the ongoing Hamas war.

CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock told the Toronto Star that because Hahn was elected to the national vice president position, the board cannot simply fire him.

“I have a [CUPE] constitution to live by and firing is … it’s not a job, per se, so it’s different,” Hancock explained. He said he thinks this is the first time the union has felt the need to push for the resignation of a senior leader. Hancock added that if Hahn will not resign on his own, “that’ll be new ground again for CUPE and me as a national president. I will review options available to me.”

Throughout the week, Hahn, who is also president of CUPE Ontario, has faced increased pressure to resign from a growing number of members of his union. The sector of CUPE that represents 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants called for his resignation as well as a local branch in Ontario that represents paramedics, EMS logistics and support staff members in the community of Windsor-Essex. A different CUPE Ontario branch representing more than 4,000 city of Hamilton employees said he also needs to step down as president of CUPE Ontario, a position he’s held since 2009.

“Being part of our union is about being part of a team, and Fred stopped being a team player a long time ago,” said CUPE’s Air Canda Component President Wesley Lesosky in a statement on Thursday. “His reckless comments last October put our members who have to travel to the Middle East as part of their flight duties in the crosshairs and he has never apologized for his role in jeopardizing their safety. Earlier this month he proved he hadn’t learned a thing when he reposted a racist and antisemitic video online. That is not leadership, and that is not what we expect of leaders in our union.”

“This is about whether we think it’s okay for our elected leaders to be sharing harmful views that violate CUPE’s Equality Statement online and repeatedly getting a pass for it,” Lesosky added. “The responsible thing for Fred to do was resign in October after his insensitive remarks that put his fellow CUPE members in harm’s way. The next best thing is for him to resign today.”

An increasing number of Canada-based Jewish groups are also calling on Hahn to resign, including the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). The advocacy organization said in a statement on Thursday that CUPE needs to take action and “remove Fred Hahn from his position.”

“It is appalling but not surprising to see Fred Hahn once again put himself ahead of union members,” CIJA added. “Since Oct. 7, Hahn’s antisemitism and anti-Israel obsession has been made clear. His insincere apologies won’t cut it anymore. Jewish members, CUPE locals, and CUPE National have all called for his immediate resignation. Rather than cling to power, he should do the right thing.”

In November, the union’s Jewish members filed a complaint against CUPE at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal for alleged discrimination and promotion of antisemitism, according to the Toronto Star. Kathryn Marshall, a lawyer representing CUPE workers in the complaint, told the publication that more union members have expressed interest in joining the case since Hahn posted the antisemitic Facebook video on Aug. 11.


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