‘ISRAELIS DEFENDING RAPISTS? THIS IS NUTS’

It was a shocking scene, Israelis breaking into a prison in support of guards accused of raping Palestinian inmates. Here, independent journalist Richard Medhurst struggles to comprehend the mentality of those involved.

In case you didn’t know, nine Israeli soldiers have been detained over allegations they sexually abused a Palestinian so badly he needed hospital treatment. However, instead of the horrific sex crime causing outrage, mobs were incensed the suspects had been questioned.

Continued……It’s been reported two members of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, were also among the demonstrators. On top of that, when news broke of the arrests the protests were called for by right-wing lawmakers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, Likud member Tally Govlit and Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot.

The NGO Palestinian Prisoners Club estimates around 9,700 Palestinians are being held in Israeli cells, including dozens of children. Amnesty International says torture of inmates is ‘rampant’, and many are being held indefinitely.

Video credit: Richard Medhurst richardtmedhurst

ISRAELI LAWMAKER DEFENDS ‘RAPING’ PALESTINIAN PRISONERS

An Israeli lawmaker stunned the Knesset when he claimed soldiers should be allowed to ‘rape’ Palestinian prisoners. Hanoch Milwidsky, a Likud party member, was speaking after the arrest of nine reservists for sexually abusing a Palestinian inmate at the notorious Sde Teiman facility.
Fellow politicians were shocked by his remarks, with Ahmad Tibi, founder and member of the Ta’al party, getting into an angry exchange.

Despite his objections, many other lawmakers seem to side with Milwidsky. After news broke of soldiers being detained over the horrific incident, senior government officials called for protests in support of those accused. Mobs then stormed Sde Teiman and also the Bet Lid military facility where the soldiers had been questioned.

It’s reported the Palestinian victim was so badly injured, he needed hospital treatment. However, according to Milwidsky, ‘if he is a Nukhba, everything is legitimate to do’.

Video credit: חדשות 24

ISRAELI MEN DEMAND RIGHTS TO RAPE PALESTINIANS PRISONERS

Here’s more viral footage of Israelis storming prisons in support of guards accused of raping Palestinian inmates. It was posted @Suppressednews and has got nearly 40 million views in less than two days. The video shows mobs responding to calls by Israeli politicians to protest the fact nine soldiers were detained over the rape of a Palestinian inmate who then needed hospital treatment. Even in the Knesset, a lawmaker claimed soldiers should be allowed to sexually abuse jailed Palestinians.

The incident took place at the notorious Sde Teiman facility. It’s a military base in the Negev desert that also doubles as a detention centre for Palestinians arrested in Gaza. Middle East Eye reported it’s held over 4,000 Gazans since October 2023. Whistleblowers have described conditions of extreme abuse and torture.

Video credits: ynet.co.il

U.S. WANTED TO COLLAPSE
VENEZUELA FOR OIL – TRUMP

Here’s another video of former US President Donald Trump saying the quiet part out loud when it comes to Venezuela. As the West doubles down on casting doubt on president-elect Maduro’s victory, it is timely to remember Washington’s thirst for Venezuelan oil.

During his presidency, Trump imposed sanctions on the country’s oil sector in an attempt to collapse Venezuela’s economy and force Maduro from office. The White House also recognised Juan Guaidó, the leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, as the country’s interim president and supported his push to seize power. Venezuela has the world’s largest oil fields and they’re largely under state control. As you’ll see in this clip, that does not sit well with the US.

Continued…. This is an old pattern. In 1954 the CIA combined with the US multinational, United Fruit Company, to overthrow Guatemala’s democratically elected leader to secure access to land and labour. The US overthrew Iraq’s Saddam Hussein when he worked to shift the oil trade away from the dollar. In 2011, eyeing Libya’s massive energy reserves, the West armed and funded rebels to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi.

Have a watch and let us know what you think. Trump was speaking at a North Carolina GOP convention last year.

‘LIBERIA IS NOBODY’S STEPCHILD’

Liberia recently celebrated its 177th Independence Day. However, activist Robtel Neajai Pailey, says her country still needs to break free from its ‘special relationship’ with the United States. In this powerful speech on July 26th, she claims the US still has an oversized influence on her country, which should be ‘nobody’s stepchild.’ Her speech upset U.S. officials in attendance who, according to folks who were there, walked out in protest.

The founding of Liberia was not done out of kindness for Africans. The American Colonization Society (ACS) wanted to deal with a growing 'problem' of freed slaves in the U.S. Equality with Whites was out of the question so, beginning in 1820, the ACS sent freed slaves back to West Africa using funds given by President James Madison. With time, the colony grew and declared its independence in 1847. The capital, Monrovia, was named after President James Monroe, who procured more funds for the colony.

Continued….. However, despite its declared ‘freedom’, there was still an exploitative relationship. Firestone, a major U.S. Tyre and Rubber Company, is a good example of that. It operated under a colonialistic 99-year lease agreement, forcing a heavily indebted Liberian government to evict indigenous Bassa communities to make way for rubber plantations. White managers coerced tens of thousands of Liberian children, women, and men to tap rubber for meagre wages. The forced evictions then fuelled future civil wars.

Robtel reckons it’s time to reimagine a new Liberia. Will it happen? Let us know your thoughts.

Video credit: Montserrado Media Inc. @Robtelneajai

NICOLAS MADURO: U.S. INCITING VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says the US is inciting citizens in his country to rise against the government. In a televised national address, Maduro said the move is being orchestrated by a group which has wielded powerful influence over successive US governments for centuries. He highlighted how this group has killed many leaders around the world and in the US for refusing to bow to its demands.

Venezuela has been rocked by unrest since the 28 July elections that Maduro won with about 51 per cent of the vote, against 44 per cent of his closest challenger, Edmundo Gonzalez.

The Western-backed opposition claims the elections were rigged but has not provided any evidence to back up the claims so far. They have also called on their supporters to take to the streets in protest.

Continued….. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken quickly latched onto the opposition allegations and said, 'the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.'
However, White House spokesperson John Kirby was more cautious, stating Washington will only take a position once it's received more information.

DEMS FORGOT DEMOCRACY BEGINS AT HOME

In the US, there’s been a surge of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris, and not just among dyed-in-the-wool Democrats: the lates polling suggests she’s caught up with Donald Trump in key swing states for a dead heat.

But Afeni - and anti-imperialist TikToker - is not convinced, for three main reasons: Harris will be handed the nomination on a plate (i.e., undemocratically), she’s complicit in the death and destruction being visited on Palestinians, and she ruined Black families’ lives in California as AG. We couldn’t agree more, sister!

Video credit: @factsandfire

US SANCTIONS STRANGLE VENEZUELA ECONOMY

We often hear Venezuela’s economic crisis being blamed on 'corruption and mismanagement.' What we don’t hear is the devastating impact US sanctions have had on the country.

In this clip, former US National Security Advisor, John Bolton, announces measures designed to cost Venezuela billions of dollars. And they're just a few of the steps the West has taken to collapse the economy and force 'regime change'.

The first round of sanctions went into effect under the Barack Obama administration in 2015; Donald Trump added more in 2017 before turning up the dial again in 2019. The measures include an embargo on the oil industry, Venezuela’s most significant source of revenue.

Continued….. Washington has also grabbed Venezuelan national assets such as Citgo, a U.S.-based oil refining, transportation and marketing company valued at $13-billion.

These measures have significantly shrunk the national coffers, making it nearly impossible to provide essential services such as health and food.

According to former UN Special Rapporteur Alfred de Zayas, the sanctions have led to the deaths of more 100,000 people between 2017 and 2020.