O.I.L. Media Roundup (26 April)

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Apr 26, 2015 Syria
[Predator drone operators at Balad Camp Anaconda, Iraq, August 2007. Photo by Master Sergeant Steve Horton] [Predator drone operators at Balad Camp Anaconda, Iraq, August 2007. Photo by Master Sergeant Steve Horton]

O.I.L. Media Roundup (26 April)

By : O.I.L Editors

[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week.]

Palestine

The Occupation and BDS, Bashir Abu Manneh
Writing in Jacobin, Abu Manneh analyzes Israeli settler colonialism and calls for centralizing the fight against the occupation in the current context

Israel`s Anti-Boycott Law Will Hit Palestinians Hardest, Rights Groups Warn, Ali Abunimah
Abunimah covers a recent Israeli Supreme Court decision upholding a 2011 law carrying harsh financial sanctions for those advocating boycott against Israel.

The Advantage for Palestine of a Slow Preliminary Examination, Kevin Jon Heller
Heller articulates what he calls a "cynical strategy" wherein Palestine, by drawing the OTP preliminary examination of the Palestinian statehood issue as long as possible, can more time for itself to make a ruling against statehood more difficult.

Naming and Shaming in Yarmouk, Ramzy Baroud
Writing in CounterPunch, Baroud highlights the role of many actors, including Israel and the armed opposition in Syria, in destroying Yarmouk

The Palestinians of Yarmouk and the Shameful Silence When Israel Is Not to Blame, Mehdi Hasan
Writing for the guardian, Hasan critiques the relative silence in public discussion of the plight of Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk, as compared with outrage over Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israel.

On the Eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel Demolished the Homes of Palestinian Citizens of Israel 15 Minutes From Tel Aviv, Udi Aloni
Responding to the Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes on holocaust remembrance day, the author declares unwillingness to participate in Jewish political movements that do not declare solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.
 

Law

Killing a Cleric: Many More Questions Than Answers, Gabor Rona
Critiques the US government justification for the drone killing of Ibrahim Rubaish, noting that the argument raises questions about how to distinguish AQAP and the al Qaeda responsible for 9/11 as well as the targetability of civilians.

Harold Koh and the Battle of the Dueling Petitions, Philip Alston
The controversy over a petition criticizing Obama Administration legal adviser Harold Koh`s position at NYU`s law school raises as many questions about the role of legal academics in government positive as it does policy crafted under Koh vis-a-vis target killings.

Trial of Karma Al-Khayat, Lebanese Journalist, Begins in Hague Tribunal, Marlise Simons
The New York Times covers the opening in the trial of a Lebanese journalist accused of publishing information confidential to an international investigation of the assassination of Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri.

Secret Details of Drone Strike Revealed as Unprecedented Case Goes to German Court, Cora Currier, Ryan Devereaux, and Jeremy Scahill
The Intercept reports on the first drone strike victim to air his grievances in a court of law.

Obama`s Lawyers: Let`s Extend the 9/11 Wars Forever, Shane Harris
Comments by an Obama administration lawyer seemed to give the lie to the president`s recent declaration of an end to combat operations in Afghanistan.

Drone Strikes in Yemen Said to Set a Dangerous Precedent, Scott Shane
A study by the Open Society Justice initiative examining the US` targeted killing program concludes the US has openly flouted it`s own rules for curbing civilian casualties.


Yemen

Aid Agency Oxfam Condemns Saudi Air Strike in Yemen, Reuters
Oxfam has stated a recent Saudi air strike in Yemen has damaged a store of humanitarian supplies.

A Revolutionary Yemen, Bilal Zenab Ahmed
Bilal Ahmed examines the prospects for a democratic movement in Yemen for Jacobin.

al Qa`ida Top Cleric in Yemen Killed in Drone Attack, Associated Press 
An al Qa`ida cleric, Ibrahim al-Rubaish, has been killed a drone strike in Yemen.


Armed Conflict

Syria: Chemicals Used in Idlib Attacks, Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch uncovers strong evidence that the government of Syria used toxic chemicals in a series of bombings in Idlib in March 2015.

Iran, Afghanistan Announce Security Cooperation Against Islamic State, AFP
Afghan leader Ashran.Ghani and Iran president Hasan Rouhani have announced a security cooperation agreement over ISIS

UN Says Libya Peace Talks `Very Close` to Final Accord, AFP
UN envoy Bernardino Leon claims negotiations between rival militias in Libya are close to eighty percent complete.

The New World Disorder, Tariq Ali
Ali describes the revelations of Western surveillance programs as a harbinger of a new form of Western government he calls the "extreme center," a step towards the elimination of democracy.


Terror

6 Arrested In Minneapolis, San Diego In Alleged ISIS-Related Plot, Marcy Kreiter
Federal agents made nearly simultaneous arrests in Minnesota and California over an alleged ISIS plot.

The FBI Informant Who Mounted a Sting Operation Against the FBI, Trevor Aaronson
The Intercept discusses "(T)error," a documentary following an FBI informant`s attempts to uncover ties to terror from a Muslim convert in Pittsburgh.
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O.I.L. Media Roundup (11 April)

[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Occupation, Intervention and Law and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the O.I.L. Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each biweekly roundup to OIL@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every other week.]

Iran


Here`s What You Need to Know About the Iran Deal, Noah RaymanTime magazine provides an overview of a deal reached between Iran and the US and a number of western powers in which the former agrees to curb it`s nuclear program to a degree in exchange for the lifting of a number of economic sanctions.

The Factual Errors in John Bolton`s "Bomb Iran!" Op-Ed in the New York Times – and Why You Should Care, Jon Schwarz
The Intercept dissects a number of factual errors in a recent New York Times op-ed advocating war with Iran.

The Fantasy of a Better Iran Deal, Samuel R. Berger 
Critics of the Iran nuclear deal with the US and five western powers are wrong to suggest that rejecting the current agreement in favor of tougher sanctions might bring about a deal more favorable to the west. 

Iran Is `Congenital Cheating` `Islamic Power Bent on World Domination,` Philip Weiss
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted to the Iran agreement with great skepticism, characterizing Iran as "more dangerous than North Korea."

Palestine

It`s Not Just the Lobby, David Mizner
The Israel lobby is far from the only factor behind American political and military support for Israel, writes Mizner, pointing out that often the relationship serves American interests in the middle east.

UN Report: 2014 Saw the Most Palestinians Killed by Israel`s Military Since `67,  Amira Hass
Israeli forces killed 2,312 Palestinians in 2014, roughly two thirds of which were civilians, the most in a single year since 1967.

Running Between the Walls in the Palestine Marathon, Ahmad Al-Bazz
A photo essay on the Palestine Marathon, a race held in Bethlehem to highlight issues of Palestinian right to movement.

The Politicization of Palestine`s ICC Membership, Raed Omari
Omari argues in al-Arabiya that Palestine`s bid for ICC membership had more to do with demonstrating their political capital ("to show that they can act unilaterally, as Netanyahu has") than necessarily initiating a prosecution of Israeli war crimes.

The International Criminal Court Will Never Investigate Palestine`s Problems, Kevin Jon Heller
Heller suggests that Hamas may increase the likelihood of the ICC convicting Israeli parties of war crimes by first volunteering it`s own leaders for prosecution, a move he refers to as "legal martyrdom."

Armed Conflict

Al-Shabaab: from al-Qaida rejects to a fighting force of thousands, David Smith
The Guardian profiles the terrorist group responsible for a raid on a school in Kenya that killed 147.

To Equip and Advise: Why the Us Strategy Against the Islamic State Will Fail, Sebastian Bae
Bae argues that US policy of air strikes and sending military advisers to assist Iraqi forces battling ISIS is a strategy likely to only result in short term military gains against the terrorist group.

US-Backed Airstrikes on Yemen Kill Civilians – and Hopes for Peace, Baraa Shiban
Shiban writes that drone strikes in Yemen have only exacerbated the country`s lack of strong governance and institutions, accusing the US of trying to "bomb a country into existence."

Law

Boston Bomber Could Live or Die Based on Whether He Was Radicalized Online, Murtaza Hussain
Dzokhar Tsarnaev, accomplice in the 2013 Boston marathon bombings, may face the death penalty if a court finds he was radicalized via online Al Qa`ida resources rather than under the influence of his fellow accomplice and older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

Occupier Orders Palestinian Lawmaker Khalida Jarrar Held 6 Months Without Charge or Trial, Ali Abunimah
Israel has ordered Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar to be held in "administrative detention"--without trial or charge--for six months. 

Imprisoned and Tortured in Syria—and Then Rejected by Washington, Tim Mak
The Daily Beast profiles Syrian activists who have encountered difficulties obtaining US government approval to travel to the US to testify about their being tortured under Assad.

ISIS

PLO to coordinate Yarmouk relief with Syrian government, Ma’an
Ma’an news discusses an agreement between the Syrian government and the PLO to allow relief and safe passage out of Yarmouk, after it was invaded by armed militants from ISIS.

"Beyond Inhumane" Battle for Refugee Camp in Syria, CBS News
CBS News covers the chaotic conditions in Syria`s Yarmouk refugee camp for Palestinians, currently under attack from Islamic State militants.

Syria offers Palestinians its firepower in Yarmouk battle
Ma’an news discusses an offer from the Syrian government to arm Palestinian factions in Yarmouk fighting to repel ISIS.

Yarmouk Camp: Palestinian Resistance Combats ISIS, Leith Fadel
Writing for Al Masdar, Fadel reports on the ongoing clashes between the Syrian army, the PFLP-GC on the one hand and ISIS on the other, for control of Yarmouk camp.

`Chaos,` Charges of Abuses Follow Retaking of Tikrit, Matt Bradley and Dion Nissenbaum
The Wall Street Journal covers the aftermath of ISIS` defeat at Tikrit at the hands of Iraqi security forces.

Tunisia Says Plans to Renew Ties With Syria to Help Track Fighters, Tarek Amara
Tunisia plans to resume, to a limited degree, diplomatic relations with Syria, as part of an effort to track thousands of Tunisian militants in Iraq and Syria.