Can someone shut up Bezalel Smotrich?

It is highly disgusting that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Tuesday openly demanded the the elimination of blockaded Gaza enclave, destruction of cities and refugee camps where 2.3 million Palestinians are still battling their survival.

"There are no half measures," said Smotrich at a government meeting. "Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat—total annihilation."

"'You will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven,'" he added, quoting the biblical story of the nation of Amalek, whose people God commanded the Israelites to exterminate and which right-wing Israeli leaders have long invoked to justify the killing of Palestinians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also referenced Amalek in the first weeks of Israel's current escalation against Gaza; Smotrich's comments came as he and other government officials pushed Netanyahu to forge ahead with a planned attack on the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1.5 million people have been displaced as other cities across Gaza have been decimated by Israeli forces.

Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), called on President Joe Biden to stop condemning thousands of US college students who have demanded a ceasefire and an end to military aid for Israel and direct his ire toward the Israeli government, which he has repeatedly insisted is targeting Hamas despite its genocidal statements and indiscriminate attacks.

"In case the Israeli government's genocidal intent in Gaza was unclear to anyone despite its daily war crimes against the Palestinian people, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's words should serve as another wake-up call," said Hooper.

"The intent of the Netanyahu government has always been Palestinian land without Palestinians, and violence has always been the route to achieve that heinous goal. Instead of condemning college students, President Biden must condemn Israeli leaders for making and acting on their genocidal threats."

In recent months, Israeli officials have stated that the "migration" of Gaza residents is their ultimate goal in relentlessly attacking the enclave, that all Palestinians in Gaza are "responsible" for a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October and are legitimate targets, that the enclave should be "flattened," and that the Israel Defense Forces is fighting "human animals."

Journalist Mehdi Hasan sardonically suggested that Smotrich's comments will be deemed acceptable by the Biden administration, members of Congress, and the U.S. corporate media because he didn't "say it on a college campus."

"Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the security cabinet, ought to be fired immediately over his latest remarks," read an editorial in Haaretz Tuesday night that was published as police in New York were storming Columbia University to arrest students.

"That's how any properly run country would act, and all the more so a country against which the International Court of Justice in The Hague has issued provisional measures requiring it to refrain from genocide, including one requiring it to deal properly with incitement to genocide."

Smotrich and others have objected to what National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Tuesday called a "reckless" deal that would allow for the release of scores of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners who have long been detained in Israeli jails. The deal would include a 40-day halt in fighting.

CAIR also pointed out Tuesday that five units of Israel's security forces have been accused of committing a "gross violation of human rights," according to a U.S. State Department analysis.

"Our nation's repeated claim that it supports international law and human rights," said national executive director Nihad Awad, "is a cruel illusion."

 

United States losing ground to Russia in Africa

The expected withdrawal of US forces from Niger will endanger US counter-terrorism operations and hand Russia more influence in Africa as American and western ties on the continent fracture, reports The Hill. 

Around 1,000 troops in Niger are expected to eventually withdraw from the country after the conclusion of ongoing high-level talks between Niamey and Washington following a military coup in the African country last year, the Pentagon has said. 

A forced withdrawal from Niger is a major setback for US military as it fights against Islamic extremist groups across the Sahel, a volatile region that stretches from Senegal in western Africa to the Red Sea.

At risk for the US is not just keeping ISIS, Boko Haram and other insurgent groups in check, but also the growing influence of Russia, Iran and China, all of which are jockeying for power in Africa along with the West. Western powers like the U.S. and European Union seem to be losing the battle in the Sahel.

“There’s been this hollowing out of all of the international security cooperation,” said  Joseph Siegle, director of research of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the Pentagon-funded National Defense University. “They were all part of a broader regional effort to try to support those countries.” 

Siegle attributes the shift to a series of governments being toppled by military juntas and an anti-western disinformation campaign supported by malicious actors in Russia or other hostile nations. But he said closer ties with Russia will harm those countries in the future, because Moscow is not investing economically into those nations.

“These countries are going to feel huge strains, and they’ll continue to try to put on a good face to show this is working, but it’s not something they’re going to be able to sustain,” he added. “Something’s going to have to give here.” 

The immediate risk of a Niger withdrawal is that the Sahel could erupt into more violence as the U.S. and France, along with other western powers, face eroding influence with military juntas that have close ties with Russia and other rival powers. 

Threats from al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked insurgent groups have already spiked in other countries ruled by military governments, including Mali, which booted French forces in 2022 but has since seen terrorist groups double their territorial control.

 

Iran and Russia: Deepening security relations

The analyst of the American think tank, Foundation for Defense Democracies (FDD), has expressed alarm over the deepening of security relations between Tehran and Moscow.

The think tank warned that Ukraine and Israel are two battlegrounds where Tehran and Moscow not only benefit from strengthening their relationship but also use them to rearrange the global order.

According to the Russian state media RIA Novosti recently reported that Russia has expressed readiness to expand military and technical cooperation with Iran. 

Russian and Iranian defense ministers discussed strengthening security relations between the two countries during a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan. The SCO is a security group with members including Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

The think tank, citing media reports, stated that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu emphasized the significant increase in military contracts between Tehran and Moscow during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart.

Senior FDD analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu believes that Russia and Iran have increasingly been able to set aside areas of tension and disagreement between them in order to confront common enemies. 

He went on to point out that the decision of the two countries to strengthen their relationship is not in response to Western pressure, raising alarm bells for the West to increase pressure and raise the costs of this relationship for both sides. The West must work on a strategy that focuses on magnifying the differences between Moscow and Tehran and highlighting them.

Ivana Stradner another analyst from FDD believes that with the approval of new packages by the United States for Ukraine, Russia is seeking to attract more assistance from its allies. 

In fact, Russia’s victory is also a success for Iran. Tehran and Moscow believe that the United States is their common enemy, and for this reason, both countries have united against Washington.

This analytical report stipulated that the confrontation with America forms the basis of cooperation between Russia and Iran. 

The meeting of the defense ministers of the two countries took place after the disclosure of confidential Russian government documents on April 17. These documents emphasized the need for greater coordination between Moscow, Iran, China, and North Korea to change the global order under US tutelage. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin also welcomed cooperation with Iran in the energy, trade, agriculture, and technology sectors in December, following increased economic cooperation between Moscow and Tehran to bypass Western sanctions.

The FDD also mentioned Russia and Iran’s cooperation in drone technologies, stating that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada imposed new sanctions on April 25 against entities supporting Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry.

The final part of this report claimed that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Tehran has provided hundreds of UAVs to Moscow in exchange for advanced military equipment.

Russia and Iran have both vehemently refuted allegations that Tehran sent Moscow drones to use in the conflict in Ukraine.

In July 2022, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made the first anti-Iran claims, saying purportedly that Washington had information indicating that the Islamic Republic was getting ready to give Russia up to several hundred drones, including weapons-capable UAVs on an expedited timeline for use in the conflict.

Experts and the media both emphasized the significance of Iranian drones, with much of the media coverage focused on increasing pressure on Iran. The Western media cannot deny the positive role of Iranian drones in the country's foreign policies.    

In an analysis, titled “Can Iran’s Shahed drones in Ukraine help ease tension with Russia?” military affairs expert and journalist Anton Mardasov discussed the impact of Iranian drones on the relations between Iran and Russia on the Al-Monitor website on August 06, 2023. 

According to Al-Monitor, low-cost Iranian drones have significantly impacted the battlefield. “Delivery of drones gave Iran the right to talk to Moscow on an equal footing,” Nikolay Kozhanov, a professor at the Persian Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, told Al-Monitor. 

 

 

Could Arabs join anti-Iran alliance?

On April 13, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel, prompting Jordan to assist in defense. Initial reports suggested broader Arab involvement, indicating a potential shift in regional dynamics. However, these claims were later refuted. Despite this, Israeli leaders and some in Washington saw it as a signal of potential Arab alignment against Iran.

Israel's restrained response to the attack led to speculation about its role as a regional coalition leader against Iran. Yet, this perspective overlooks the complex realities in the region. Arab-Israeli cooperation faces challenges, including frustrations over Israeli policies in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Arab states, often labeled as a "Sunni alliance," prioritize balancing relationships with Iran and Israel to avoid wider conflict and protect domestic legitimacy. While they provided assistance to Israel, it was driven by maintaining ties with the United States rather than aligning with Israel.

Efforts to counter Iran are driven by maintaining relations with the U.S. Gulf Arab states have engaged with Tehran to manage tensions, seeking diplomatic dialogue over retribution. Despite shared concerns about Iran's activities, Arab states prioritize normalization with Iran over direct confrontation.

Arab states are cautious about overtly supporting Israel due to domestic costs, especially concerning Palestinian statehood. They aim to balance multiple relationships and avoid alignment with anti-Iran blocs, preferring dialogue to prevent conflict escalation.

Arab states can play a crucial role in preventing escalation between Iran and Israel by facilitating communication and encouraging restraint. However, closer cooperation with Israel is hindered by ongoing conflicts, limiting political engagement and economic ties.

In the near term, efforts will focus on mediation and conflict prevention, with realistic expectations about Arab-Israeli cooperation. While technical collaboration on common concerns may continue, high-profile political engagement with Israel depends on resolving ongoing conflicts.

Floating Gaza Pier: Growing Suspicions

Satellite images released indicate that work at Gaza pier in the Mediterranean Sea is going on at an accelerated speed by the US military, but US motives are also being questioned.

Reportedly, the Pentagon has confirmed media reports that the pier that is being built by the US military near Gaza will cost at least $320 million, which is double the original estimate announced for the project. 

“The cost has not just risen. It has exploded,” Senator Roger Wicker told Reuters. 

“This dangerous effort with marginal benefit will now cost the American taxpayers at least US$320 million to operate the pier for only 90 days,” the Republican lawmaker added. 

Around 1,000 US military personnel have been deployed to Gaza’s waters, including from the army and navy, who are working in close coordination with the Israeli army and navy to build the pier that the Pentagon says will be operational in May.

The huge investment has raised question marks on how this costly project will help the man-made starvation across the Gaza Strip.

Once the aid reaches Gaza, it will undergo another land inspection by the Israeli military, despite being inspected in Cyprus before it reaches the people of Gaza. 

Who will distribute this aid inside Gaza? Who will send it to the north where food and water are needed the most? These are among the many key questions that the White House has declined to provide any answers to.

More importantly, more than 90 aid trucks are being inspected but blocked from entering Gaza. A leaked internal US State Department memo has admitted that Israel rejects aid trucks from entering the enclave in violation of international humanitarian law. 

Essentially, the Israeli occupation forces, which have killed a record number of aid workers numerous times, will be in charge of handling the aid via this questionable project.

The United Nations has been calling on the Israeli occupation regime to allow a significant increase in the number of humanitarian trucks to enter the enclave to avoid famine. 

500 trucks entered the Strip on a daily basis before the war. UN officials say the daily figures needed now vastly exceed pre-war levels.

Last week, the UN pointed out that the average number of trucks entering Gaza every day during April was 200, which is far below the required level. 

Critics of the US project say it is difficult to see how 90 extra trucks, should they reach the Palestinians, will alleviate the humanitarian crisis given the time, costs and the number of service members involved in the US port being built off the Gaza coast. 

“How much will taxpayers be on the hook once – or if – the pier is finally constructed?” Wicker noted. 

The administration of US President Joe Biden, which announced the project in early March, has been accused of allowing excessive food shortage in Gaza under its watch by refusing to pressure the Israeli occupation regime to stop preventing food and water from entering the enclave.

There are serious questions over the real motives of the US for establishing the pier. It has been criticized by aid agencies as glossing over the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinians. 

There are suspicions that the US wants to maintain the port and turn it into a military base or use the floating pier to transfer portions of the Gaza population elsewhere in what is legally defined as ethnic cleansing. 

In a statement, the Israeli military said it is involved in the port’s construction with logistical support as well as an Israeli military brigade, which includes thousands of soldiers, along with the Israeli navy and air force. 

The only party that is not involved in the project is the Palestinians, who have once again been sidelined. Hamas has warned it would target foreign forces, uninvited, on Palestinian land or water. 

“We categorically reject any non-Palestinian presence in Gaza, whether at sea or on land, and we will deal with any military force present in these places, Israeli or otherwise … as an occupying power,” Khalil al-Hayya, a top Hamas political official, told the Associated Press last week. 

He added Israeli forces “have not destroyed more than 20% of (Hamas’) capabilities, neither human nor in the field.” 

 

US-built floating pier in Mediterranean Sea

The United States military has released photos showing a floating pier being built in the Mediterranean Sea to help increase humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza.

Logistics vessels and personnel can be seen assembling the pier from steel segments, next to a US Navy ship. Costing about US$320 million, the pier and a causeway attached to the shore should be operational in a week.

The goal is to deliver aid equivalent to as many as two million meals a day to Gaza to help avert a famine there.

An UN-backed assessment said last month that 1.1 million people were facing catastrophic hunger and that famine was imminent in northern Gaza by May.

"Right now, you're seeing construction of that floating, temporary pier, and then, you'll start to see construction of the causeway," US defense department spokeswoman Sabrina Singh had told reporters in Washington on Monday.

"Eventually, that causeway will be... pushed into the coastline and secured by the Israel Defense Forces," she added.

The pier will be ready a week from now, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

The UN has said a maritime corridor can never be a substitute for delivery by land, and land routes are the only way to bring in the bulk of supplies needed.

Satellite images published by Planet Labs meanwhile appeared to show the pier was being built next to the USNS Benavidez, a Military Sealift Command roll-on/roll-off ship, 11km north-west of the coast of northern Gaza.

A senior US military official said last week that the Israeli military's security role meant "no US boots will be on the ground" as part of the mission to construct and operate what is known officially as the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore, or JLOTS.

An unnamed "third party" would also be driving aid lorries down the causeway, the official added.

Hundreds of sailors and soldiers involved in the operation will live and sleep aboard a British Navy logistical support ship, RFA Cardigan Bay, which has been deployed to the area.

On Saturday, the IDF confirmed that the Israeli Navy would secure the forces operating the pier and said it was committed to increasing the amount of humanitarian aid transferred daily into Gaza.

A senior Hamas official told the Associated Press last week that the group — which is proscribed as a terrorist organization by Israel and the US — rejected any non-Palestinian presence in Gaza, whether at sea or on land and would deal with any military force present in these places... as an occupying power.

He spoke a day after Israel said terrorists had fired mortars at the site during a visit by UN personnel. No injuries were reported.

The IDF also released photos and videos of what it described as the extensive preparations being carried out by its forces at a 67 acre holding area where aid from the floating pier will be brought.

The site is just inland from the makeshift jetty built by the US charity World Central Kitchen in March for a maritime corridor that was suspended after seven of its aid workers were killed in an Israeli air strike.

The US military official said the floating pier should be able to handle about 90 lorry loads of aid per day initially, and then quickly scale up to about 150 lorry loads. A lorry can typically carry about 20 tons of supplies.

The UN has blamed the severe food shortage on Israeli restrictions on deliveries, the ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of order.

On Friday, the UN said a daily average of 192 aid lorries entered Gaza during April via the Egyptian-controlled Rafah and Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossings, which are in southern Gaza.

The figure did not cover two recently-opened Israeli-controlled entry points in central and northern Gaza.

Israeli Defense Ministry body Cogat said an average of 350 lorries entered Gaza daily through all crossings in the week beginning April 07.

It has insisted that Israel is not limiting aid deliveries and has blamed the UN for failing to distribute it to those in need inside Gaza.

 

Iran committed to Persian Gulf security

The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has delivered a resolute message reaffirming Iran's unwavering dedication to fostering peace, security, brotherhood, and friendship in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks on Persian Gulf Day as he shed light on the momentous historical event of the Portuguese occupation of the Persian Gulf, which finally ceased on April 29, 1622, after 117 years.

In a comprehensive address, Tangsiri underscored the economic significance of the Persian Gulf, revealing that a staggering 40% of the globe's gas and a commanding 62% of its oil reserves are nestled within its shores. 

He also reiterated Iran's steadfast commitment to safeguarding the vital Strait of Hormuz, a bustling maritime thoroughfare facilitating the passage of 83 vessels daily and ensuring uninterrupted global trade.

Despite external challenges, Tangsiri emphasized Iran's proactive policy to foster peace and solidarity with fellow Muslim nations in the region. 

He articulated Iran's steadfast rejection of warmongering agendas juxtaposed against Tehran’s steadfast advocacy for diplomacy and cooperation.

"The region holds strategic and economic significance for both Iran and our neighboring nations," asserted the IRGC navy chief, underscoring that foreign entities harbor nefarious intentions through illegitimate presence and arms sales in the Persian Gulf.

He further remarked, "Those arriving from distant lands to this region aren't seeking security. We've extended a message of peace, friendship, and solidarity to the Muslim nations in the vicinity."

Tangsiri went on to emphasize Iran's commitment to "mutual interests with regional countries."

Concluding on a forward-looking note, Tangsiri echoed the imperative of executing the directives of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, particularly in cultivating maritime awareness among the nation's youth. 

The Persian Gulf, spanning around 251,000 square kilometers, is bordered to the north by the Arvand River, delineating the boundary between Iran and Iraq, and to the south by the Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

This crucial waterway acts as a vital international trade route, facilitating commerce between West Asia, Africa, India, and China.