Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestine (1 – 7 June 2021)

 08-07-2021

Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestine

1 – 7  June 2021

Palestinian killed and 8 wounded in IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank

Two Palestinians (including 1 woman) suffered minor wounds in IOF airstrike on northern Gaza Strip

In 107 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 58 civilians arrested, including 3 children and 2 women

Among the arrestees are two Palestinian civil society activists and human rights defenders: General-Director of Health Work Committees (HWC) and Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Southern West Bank

IOF issue decision to shut down Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in Ramallah for 6 months

Two limited IOF incursions and 3 shootings reported in eastern Khan Younis

Occupied East Jerusalem: 4 houses self-demolished; IOF demolished an under-construction school, a storehouse and a barracks

Settlement expansion scheme includes confiscation of at least 8,5000 dunums in Salfit

IOF established 36 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians on said checkpoints

Summary   

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians, turning the West Bank into isolated blocks of land. Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian properties and land continued. The last few weeks witnessed a systemic demolition campaign as well as issuance of demolition and cease-construction notices in an effort to create a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip enters its 15^th year under closure, exacerbating the humanitarian hardships across the territory especially as the Strip still suffers the aftermath of the IOF military aggression that took place two months ago.

IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:

A Palestinian civilian was killed and 8 others were wounded due to IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: a Palestinian man was killed, and two others wounded in a separate incident, in Nablus; 5 were wounded in Hebron; and another in Salfit. Dozens suffocated due to tear gas inhalation, fired by IOF in its attacks in the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, two Palestinians (including 1 woman) were wounded due to splattered glass after IOF launched an airstrike on a plot of land in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip. Additionally, 3 IOF shootings were reported against agricultural lands in eastern Khan Younis.

IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 107 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 58 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 children and two women. Among the arrestees, were lawyer Fareed Mohammed al-Atrash (44), Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in southern West Bank and Dr. Shatha ‘Odeh, General-Director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) and President of the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), IOF confiscated her car as well; IOF had issued a 6-month shut down on UHWC 4 months ago. Additionally, IOF  raided the Headquarter of the of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in al-Bireh City, confiscated some its contents and then ordered to close it for 6 months.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two limited incursions into eastern Khan Younis; IOF construction vehicles levelled lands that were previously razed by IOF.

Demolitions:

PCHR fieldworkers documented 7 violations:

East Jerusalem: a warehouse, barracks, and an under-construction school demolished; 4 houses were self-demolished

Salfit: Israeli plan to expand “Yakir” and “Nofim” settlements, which are established on the lands of Deir Istiya village, with an area of 8500 dunums

Settler-attacks: PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented two attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians and their properties:

Hebron: settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and lands, wounding a Palestinian man and his son

East Jerusalem: metal stairs established in a Palestinian’s land in Jerusalem to connect several buildings that were seized by settlers.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

The Israeli authorities continued to impose collective punishments against the people of the Gaza Strip by strictly tightening its closure on the Gaza Strip, which entered its 15^th year, without any indication for a solution in the future, depriving the Gaza population from enjoying their economic, social and cultural rights. Since the May IOF military aggression on Gaza, IOF have reinforced the restrictions imposed on the entry of goods and raw materials via Gaza’s sole commercial crossing, Karm Abu Salem, as well as its restrictions on the movement of individuals to and from the West Bank and Israel via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.

Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.

Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity

Following Friday prayer, on 02 July 2021, IOF suppressed a peaceful protest organized by dozens of Palestinians in front of a sit-in tent in al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, against houses demolition and the displacement of the neighborhood’s residents. The residents called for performing the Friday prayer in front of the sit-in tent in al-Bustan neighborhood. IOF deployed near the tent, provoked the protestors, and closed all intersections leading to the tent. Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians gathered, held banners condemning the occupation, chanted national slogans, and called upon the international community to intervene and protect Silwan village’s residents from being displaced from their houses. During which, IOF suppressed the protest and fired teargas canisters and sound bombs at the protestors. Afterwards, clashes erupted between the protestors and IOF in al-Bustan, Bir Ayoub and Baten al-Hawa neighborhoods, during which, IOF heavily fired teargas canisters. As a result, dozens of protestors suffocated due to teargas inhalation.

At approximately 12:20, IOF stationed in al-Ras area, northwest of Salfit, suppressed a protest organized by dozens of Palestinians against lands confiscation in favor of settlement projects. IOF chased the protestors, clashed with them, and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at them. As a result, a 29-year-old male, from Salfit, was hit with a teargas canister in his chest.

At approximately 13:30, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, opened fire at agricultural lands adjacent to Khuzaʽa village in eastern Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 03 July 2021, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, opened fire at agricultural lands and Palestinian young men who approached the fence adjacent to Khuzaʽa village in eastern Khan Yunis. No casualties were reported.

On Saturday, 03 July 2021, a Palestinian civilian was killed and another wounded in IOF’s excessive use of force while protecting a group of settlers attacking Qusra village, southeastern Nablus.

According to PCHR investigations, at approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 3 July 2021, a group of settlers coming from “Ish Kodesh” settlement outpost, which is established on Qusra village lands, attacked Palestinians’ houses under IOF  protection. The local mosques called via speakers on the community to challenge the settlers and the military forces protecting them. Mohammed Farid Ali Hassan’s (20) house was among those subjected to settlers attacks. At the time, Hassan went to the roof and attempted to stop the settlers attacking his house by throwing stones. IOF shot live bullets at him, wounding him in the chest.  Israeli soldiers raided Hassan’s house and took him, called an ambulance that transported him into a hospital in Israel. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinians arrived at the scene and confronted the settlers and soldiers; the latter proceeded with firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, stun and tear gas grenades at the locals wounding a 22-year-old male with live bullets in his lower extremities. He was taken to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus for treatment. Several others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and were treated in the field. At approximately 21:00, IOF announced Mohammed Hassan dead, and informed the Palestinian Liaison, who informed Qusra Mayor, Mohammed Jaber, that Hassan died of his wounds.

At approximately 21:00, an Israeli infantry unit moved into Al-Arroub refugee camp in northern Hebron. They deployed between residential houses and patrolled the area. In the meantime, a group of Palestinians gathered near a distribution center belonging to UNRWA and threw stones at IOF, who chased the stone-throwers and fired teargas canisters at them. As a result, many of them suffocated due to teargas inhalation. IOF withdrew from the camp while a number of soldiers remained in the camp and stationed at its entrance until midnight.

At approximately 22:40 on Saturday, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at an agricultural land on al-Karama Street, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip. Five minutes later, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at the land, causing severe damage in the area as olive trees were uprooted and a blocks factory located near the land sustained damage. Also, nearby houses sustained damage due to the scattering shrapnel. Moreover, Manal Hasan Mohammed al-Terawi (57) sustained puncture wounds in her right hand palm and in her lower limbs; and Jamal Helmi Ibrahim al-Qishawi (66) sustained puncture wounds all over his body. The injuries of them were described minor.

At approximately 01:30 on Sunday, 04 July 2021, a number of vehicles carrying Israeli settlers moved into the northern area of Halhul city in northern Hebron, under the IOF protection. IOF stationed in al-Nabi Yunis neighborhood and the settlers headed to the Old Mosque (al-Nabi Mousa Mosque) to perform prayers. In the meantime, a group of Palestinians gathered in the area and threw stones at IOF, who responded with live bullets and teargas canisters. As a result, 5 Palestinians were shot with live bullets and taken to hospitals in Hebron. The clashes continued for several hours. IOF withdrew at 04:00, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 04 July 2021, IOF moved into Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They closed the main street for several hours, established military checkpoints in the area, searched Palestinians’ vehicles, checked their IDs, and forced them to pass through bypass roads. Afterwards, dozens of Palestinians gathered and threw stones at IOF and their vehicles. IOF immediately assaulted the protestors and heavily fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at them. The clashes continued until dawn hours. As a result, dozens of protestors suffocated due to teargas inhalation.

At approximately 23:05 on Monday, 05 July 2021, IOF moved into Nablus, to secure dozens of buses carrying Israeli settlers towards Joseph’s tomb, east of the city. IOF deployed on the city streets, especially in the eastern side, and between shops. At approximately 23:30, IOF opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle, which collided into a cement cube in al-Monshar area to avoid soldiers who suddenly came out in front of it. As a result, the driver namely Ameer ‘Ali Kamel ‘Issa (33), from al-Masaken al-Sha’biyia neighborhood, northeast of Nablus, was shot with 2 live bullets and taken to Rafidia Governmental Hospital. It was turned out that ‘Issa was shot with a live bullet in his right leg, was shot with a superficial bullet in his nose, and sustained fractures in his pelvis and right leg.

Incursions and arrests

Thursday, 01 July 2021

At approximately 00:30, IOF stationed at military checkpoint (300), north of Bethlehem, arrested Ameer Hasan ‘Allama, from al-Dawha village, west of the city. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Teir’s (71) house, a member of the dissolved legislative council, and arrested him

.

It should be noted that Abu Teir is a former prisoner who spent 37 years in the Israeli prisons, and was arrested over than 20 times, the latest of which was last year, where he spent 10 months under the administrative arrest and released last March. Abu Teir is from Umm Tuba village in the occupied East Jerusalem, but he is exiled since 2010.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Yazeed Bahar’s (18) house and arrested him.

Around the same time, IOF moved into Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (7) civilians. The arrestees are: Ahmed Ra’fat al-Badawi (17), Obaida Ammar al-Ra’i (17), Anan Nidal al-Sharif (18), Sanad Emad al-Ra’i (19), Rami Mohammed Abdul Rahman (18), Mahmoud Eisa Jawabra (17), and Mohammed Eisa Jawabra (19).

Friday, 02 July 2021:

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dayr al-‘Asal village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron governorate. They raided and searched Abdullah Yaser Shawamra’s (30) house and arrested him.

Around the same time, IOF moved into the southern side of Hebron. They raided and searched Sa’eb Saber Abu Sneina’s (36) house and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Izbat abu Khmeish in Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Mahmoud Ibrahim Zeidan (39).

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Ein a-Luza neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Lo’ay Sami al-Rajabi’s (26) house and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence services in al-Maskobiya police center.

At approximately 18:00, IOF stationed at the entrance of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested Abdullah Abu Zneid (19) and Waseem al-Qawasmi (20). IOF took them to one of the police centers in the city.

At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Qaffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Oday Majdi al-Zeben (19).

IOF carried out (2) incursions in Qarawat Bani Hassan and Kifl Haris villages in Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 03 July 2021:

At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Belal Abdul Rahman Awad’s (23) house and arrested him.

IOF carried out (2) incursions in Samu’ and Bayt Kahil villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 04 July 2021:

At approximately 01:00, IOF stationed at al-Container military checkpoint, east of Bethlehem, arrested the lawyer Fareed Mohammed al-Atrash (44), Director of the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in southern West Bank and resident of al-Dawha area in Bethlehem, when he was on his way back from Ramallah. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

His wife stated to PCHR’s fieldworker the following:

“I received a call from my husband at 04:00 telling me that IOF stopped his car at al-Container Checkpoint and arrested him.  He told me that he was exhausted and suffered shortness of breath, so the Israeli forces took him to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Later the family learnt from HaMoked Complaints Office that my husband was referred at 10:00 to “Atarot” police station in Jerusalem while his brother brought my husband’s car that was left at al-Container checkpoint.”

Lawyer al-Atrash was previously arrested and abused by IOF several times; on 26 February 2016 IOF arrested him during his participation in a peaceful protest in Hebron and released him 8 days later.  He also appeared many times before the ”Ofer” military court; the last was on 30 May 2021 when the court imposed on him “a fine of 1500 NIS, suspended for 2 months”.

At approximately 09:00, IOF stopped Majed Ragheb al-Jo’ba’s (41) vehicle in Herod’s Gate “Bab Al Sahera”, in the occupied East Jerusalem. They pulled him and his family out of the vehicle, confiscated the vehicle and handed him a summons to refer to Moscovia Detention Centre in West Jerusalem.

It should be noted that al-Jo’ba is a former prisoner who spent 7 years in the Israeli prisons on charge of belonging to Hamas Movement, and his activities within the Aqsa Youth Group. Furthermore, IOF banned al-Jo’ba from entering Jerusalem and the West Bank for 6-months in 2018 and allowed him to be present only in the occupied territories of 1948 and Eizariya, east of Jerusalem, and renewed that decision several times for separated periods, summonsed him and threatened of taking serious actions against him.

At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Oday Alaa al-Haddad’s (9) house and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence services in al-Kishle police center.

At approximately 14:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved 100-meters into the east of al-Fukhkhari village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled and combed lands along the border fence for several hours before they deployed again inside the border fence.

At approximately 15:00, IOF arrested Nimir Hasan Jawabra (22), from al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, after stopping him on a temporary military checkpoint established at the western entrance of the camp.

At approximately 20:00, IOF arrested Samer al-Bakri (32), while present near Bab al-Amud “Damascus Gate” in the occupied East Jerusalem. IOF took him to al-Bareed police center on Salah al-Dein street.

Monday, 05 July 2021:

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Mohammed Ahmed Abu al-Hawa’s (18) house and arrested him.

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Farouq Sbeih Hamayil (20) and Nawras Naji Hamayil (21) and arrested them.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Bara’ Abdul Naser Odwan (24).

At approximately 02:50, IOF moved into Zababdeh, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Taha Nafea’ al-Sharqawi (34).

At approximately 03:10, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Baker Mohammed Abu Obaid (33), and Wael Ahmed ‘Aridi (28).

At approximately 04:00, IOF stationed near Bab Huta, one of the Aqsa Mosque’s Gates in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested Khair al-Dein al-Shimi (63), from al-Makr village near Acre city, while performing al-Fajr “dawn” prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF took him to one of the police centers in the occupied city.

At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Wadi Qadum neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Obada Nidal Dandis’s (25) house and arrested him.

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Dahrah area in al-Isawiya, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Marwan Haitham Mustafa’s (13) house and arrested him.

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Majd Abu Hatab’s (20) house and arrested him.

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Yatta, south of Hebron governorate. They raided and searched Tha’er Abdul Rahman al-Herini’s (39) house and arrested him.

At approximately 19:00, IOF stationed at the entrance of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested Ahmed Abu Eisa (14), because he was wearing the Palestinian scarf “Keffiyeh”. IOF took him to one of the detention centers in the occupied city.

IOF carried out (5) incursions in Usarin in Nablus; Fahma, southwest of Jenin; Beit Ummar, Dura, and Bayt al-Rosh al-Fawqa villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 06 July 2021

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hizma village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (6) civilians. The arrestees are: Ra’fat Talal Salah al-Dein (24), Mohammed Owda al-Khateeb (26), Salah Fares Salah al-Dein (23), Abdullah Aqel al-Khateeb (29), Mohammed Roshdi Salah al-Dein (27), and Abdul Rahman Osama al-Khateeb (27).

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Anata village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mohamadeen Yaser Salama and Mousa Jamal Salama and arrested them.

At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into Tarqumiyah, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and arrested and arrested (4) civilians. The arrestees are: Mohammed Hmeidat al-Moraqtan (33), Mohammed Mousa Thabaniyah (35), Mostafa Abdul Qader Thabaniyah (33) and Hmeidan Mohammed al-Moraqtan (37).

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Dawha village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Eyas Basam Faraheen (25) and Yousef Ibrahim al-Afifi (23) and arrested them.

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis village, east of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ahmed Afana’s (19) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Yousef Abu Safiya’s (14) house and arrested him.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli Intelligence Services arrested Mohammed al-Afifi (23), from al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, after referring to the Israeli Intelligence Services in “Gush Etzion” settlement in Bethlehem.

At approximately 17:00, IOF stationed at a checkpoint established at the entrance of Shu’afat refugee camp, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem, arrested Jaber Emad al-‘Adaween (43), while passing through the checkpoint. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

IOF carried out (3) incursions in Jenin, Silat al-Harithiya and Yamun villages, west of Jenin. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 07 July 2021:

At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into al-Tabaqa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron governorate. They raided and searched Monthir Mohammed Abu ‘Atwan’s (55) house and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mohammed Mahrous al-Kawni (21) and Taha Wael al-Titi (30) and arrested them.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Layan Naser’s (20) house and arrested her.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Khursa village, south of Dura. They raided and searched Muntaser Eisa Shadid’s (47) house and arrested him.

Around the same time, IOF raided Ein Mosbah area in Ramallah and Dr. Shatha ‘Odeh, General-Director of the Health Work Committees (HWC) and President of the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), from her house in Ramallah. IOF did not search Dr. Odeh’s house and asked her to take her medications and any belongings, arrested her and confiscated her car. Dr. Odeh’s family learned that she was taken to Ofer prison, noting that she suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). It worth noting that on 08 March 2021, IOF raided UHWC’s headquarter in Bireh City, and closed it for 6 months. The closure order is still valid.

Early on Wednesday, IOF raided the Headquarter of the of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in al-Bireh City, confiscated some its contents and then ordered to close it for 6 months. Also, they arrested

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 03:30, IOF backed by military vehicles moved into Bireh City and stationed in Sateh Marhaba neighborhood. They raided and searched UAWC’s headquarter (1 floor in Sidah building) and damage its contents. Before their withdrawal, IOF closed the main door of the UAWC’s office with metal bars and fixed an order to close the office for 6 months.

Foad Abu Saif, UAWC’s Director, stated to PCHR’s fieldworker that IOF managed to open the office main door with special machine, broke and damage the office contents and confiscated some of them, including hard disks and recording device of the surveillance cameras. He added that some of employees and I arrived at the UAWC’s office at approximately 08:00 and entered it via emergency exit door as the office main door was closed with metal bars and a closure order issued by the “Israel Defense Forces Commander in Judea and Samaria” was fixed on it. The closure order is valid until 06 January 2022. The order states that the closure order issued under the pretext that we work on land reclamation project in area classified as Area C.

It should be noted that UAWC is an institution working in the field of agriculture and is considered one of the largest agricultural development institutions in Palestine.  UAWC was founded in 1986 and it has several branches in the West Bank governorates.

At approximately 10:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved a limited distance from the east of al-Qarara village to the northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled and combed lands along the border fence amidst a sporadic Israeli shooting and deployed again inside the border fence after several hours. No casualties were reported.

IOF carried out (4) incursions in Jenin; Ramin, south of Tulkarm; Samu and Bayt Kahil in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem

Demolitions, Confiscations, and Notices

At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 01 July 2021, Israeli Municipality’s bulldozers demolished a warehouse, barracks, and fence in Sur Baher, south of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of no construction license.

Mahmoud Khalil al-Baseet said that IOF stormed his land in the village without a prior warning and levelled the fence surrounding in addition to demolishing the warehouse.  He added that the warehouse was built 5 months ago on an area of 40sqms.  Before they withdrew, the Israeli bulldozers demolished a 25-sqm commercial barrack belonging to Hasan Fawaqah.

In the evening, ‘Ezzat Khalil Ziyadah self-demolished his 2 houses in Salib area, where “Har Gilo” settlement was established near Beit Safafa village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, pursuant to the Israeli municipal decision, under the pretext of unlicensed building.

‘Ezzat Ziyadah said that he had lived in his house for more than 30 years despite lack of services as the Israeli Municipality did not supply him with water and electricity like other Israeli settlers in Giol Settlement, costing him tens of thousands of shekels to established electricity poles and water network.  ‘Ezzat added that he lived with his daughter and 2 sons; one is married with his wife and kids, in an apartment, while his son Mo’ayad and his wife and 3 kids lived in small apartment next to them.  Both apartments are 230sqms.  ‘Ezzat said that the Israeli municipality has haunted him for 17 years, so he hired a lawyer to postpone and freeze the demolition decision many times.  However, the municipality gave him lately until Fourth of July to carry out the demolition or it will send its bulldozers and crews to do so and impose on him high expenses.  As a result, he was forced to self-demolish. 

In the afternoon, Bader Darwish Abu Solah self-demolished his house in al-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, pursuant to the Israeli municipality decision under the pretext of unlicensed destruction.

Bader Dawlah, the house’s owner, said that he built his house in 1952 and around 18 years ago he established a second floor of tinplate and steel that included a room, kitchen, and a bathroom on an area of 40sqms. When his son became older, he moved to the house.  Abu Dawlah said that the Israeli municipality haunted his son in the last 2 years and issued a demolition decision for the second floor.  Abu Dawlah added that his son hired a lawyer to postpone the demolition decision, but the court reassured the decision and forced him to self-demolish his house or he will be fined with ILS 70,000.

On Sunday morning, 04 July 2021, the Israeli Civil Administration declared a plan to expand “Yakir” and “Nofim” settlements established on the lands of Deir Istiya village, north of Salfit, with an area of 8,500 dunums. The expansion plan will include Palestinian lands in the areas of al-Nuwetif, al-Majwar, Wadi Khalil, al-Saffar and Bir ‘Ammar, all the way to Wadat Al-Hamam affiliated to Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit.

The Municipality crews of “Deir Istiya and Bir ‘Ammar” reviewed the plan on reality and showed the owners their confiscated land in favor of the plan.  Meanwhile, the Palestinian Liaison was informed that ten thousand dunums from Deir Istiya western lands that included al-Marah, al-Sahlat, Khallet Abu Rabie, al-Musalbeh, a part of Khallet Nashit, and Hariqet Abu Zuhair, Khallet al-‘Am, al-Kabara, Ghirsat al-Ain, part of al-Batin, al-Hanaya, al-Thaer, al-Dakhmash and part of Wadi Qana, and Kherbet Shehadah as well as the archeological site, giving them 20 days to appeal starting from Friday, 02 July 2021. 

On the same morning, Mohammed ‘Adnan Darwish self-demolished his under-construction house in al-‘Issawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, pursuant to the Israeli municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.  Mohammed Darwish said that he lived in a small house which did not suffice his wife and 4 children; the eldest is 31 years old and the youngest is 8; thus, he had to build a bigger house on area of 120sqms in the village to move to with his children so his eldest son could marry.  Darwish added that he had to build the house without a construction license, as he knew it is impossible to get one in this area.  He said that he hired a lawyer to freeze the decision and managed to do so until the beginning of next September; however, he was surprised with a phone call from the Israeli police giving him until 18:00 to carry out the demolition or the municipality’s crews will do so and fine him with ILS 300,000 for the demolition costs.

At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 06 July 2021, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction school belonging to Saleh ‘Alqam in al-Salam Suburb in ‘Anata village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

Saleh ‘Alqam, Director of al-Razi Schools, said that the Israeli Municipality bulldozers moved into al-Salam Suburb via the annexation wall’s gate and accompanied with tens of infantry forces that surrounded the new building of al-Razi School and started demolishing it.  ‘Alqam said that the 280-sqm school building of 3 floors was supposed to receive hundreds of students in the beginning of the new semester.  He added that he established the new building instead of the old one that was demolished by IOF in March 2019 on an area of 1000sqms in addition to the public utilities.  He said that he tried to obtain a construction license for the school but the Israeli municipality procrastinated each time he headed to obtain a license, claiming that he refuses to teach the Israeli curriculum in his schools. 

In the same morning, Ahmed Yousif Abu Ghannam self-demolished his residential building in al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, pursuant to the Israeli Municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.  Abu Ghannam added that his 2-storey building housed 3 inhabited apartments and another under construction with an overall area of 300 sqms.  He said that he finished the construction in 2013 and lived with his family along with his sister and brother’s families of 21 individuals; most of them are children.  He said that the Israeli Municipality has haunted him since 2019 and issued a demolition decision.  Last May, the Israeli court approved the demolition decision and rejected postponing or freezing it.  The Israeli police raided the building many times last month and ordered him to carry out the demolition.  Few days ago, the Israeli police called him to warn him of sending the municipality vehicles to demolish it if he did not do it himself and fine him with ILS 200,000 for the demolition expenses.  Abu Ghannam said that this is the second time the Israeli municipality demolish his house as in 1994 it demolished his family house in the neighborhood and made them homeless.

Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 01 July 2021, a group of settlers from “Mitzpe Yair” settlement established on the Palestinian lands of eastern Yatta, south of Hebron, moved into Maghayer al-‘Abeed area.  The settlers uprooted the water pipes installed by the residents to supply houses with water and assaulted the residents who attempted to confront them.  As a result, Msallam Ahmed Abu Humeid (44) and his son Ahmed (20) sustained bruises.  IOF and Israeli police arrived and moved the settlers away while Abu Humeid and his son were taken to a clinic in Yatta.

At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 04 July 2021, a group of settlers under IOF’s protection raided a plot of land belonging to Maher Abu Subeih in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan, south of occupied Eat Jerusalem’s Old City and installed stairs inside to connect several estates seized by settlers in the neighborhood.

Fakhri Abu Diab, member of Silwan Defense Committee, said that settlers from ‘Atarit Cohanim settlement organization raided a plot of land belonging to Maher Abu Sbeih, but his wife expelled them.  The settlers came back under IOF’s protection and started installing the stairs to connect a building belonging to ‘Awad Family and lately seized by settlers with another building seized 10 years ago in the same neighborhood.  Abu Diab added that the land’s owner resorted to the Israeli court to stop the settlers’ assault on his land and issued a decision from the court proving his ownership of the land and removing the stair installed by the settlement organization.   However, IOF ignored the court’s decision and provided full protection for the settlers during their assault on Abu Subeih’s land.

Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods:

The Gaza Strip:

The Israeli authorities continued to impose collective punishments against the people of the Gaza Strip, including tightened restrictions on imports and exports, causing a serious deterioration in Palestinians’ enjoyment of their economic and cultural rights.

The Gaza Strip still suffers under the Israeli-imposed closure, which entered its 15^th year recently, with extreme restrictions on the movement of goods and individuals, exacerbating the continued deterioration of humanitarian conditions and causing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. For further information, please see PCHR State of the Border Crossing monthly update, and PCHR reports on the closure.

The West Bank

In addition to 108 permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of 36 temporary checkpoints that restrict the movement of goods and individuals, where IOF searched Palestinians’ vehicles, checked their IDs and arrested 9 of them. IOF closed many roads with cement cubes, metal detector gates and sand berms and tightened their measures against individuals’ movement at military permanent checkpoints. IOF reinforced its restrictions on civilians’ freedom of movement at its permanent checkpoints in the West Bank and shut some checkpoints for several hours on multiple occasions.

Hereafter are PCHR documentation of restrictions on the freedom of movement and IOF-established temporary checkpoints across the West Bank this week:

Jerusalem

On Friday, 02 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints near al-Maghareba Gate and at the entrance to Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan.

Bethlehem

On Thursday, 01 July 2021, IOF establishes 2 checkpoints near al-Nashash area and at the northern entrance to Tuqu village, east of the city.

On Friday, 02 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints near al-Nashash area and at the northern entrance to Jannatah village, east of the city.

On Saturday, 03 July 2021, IOF establishes a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Tuqu village, east of the city.

On Sunday, 04 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints in ‘Aqabet Hasnah area and at the entrance to Tuqu village, east of the city.

On Monday, 05 July 2021, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Wadi Fukin village, west of the city.

On Tuesday, 06 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the western and northern entrances to Tuqu village, east of the city.

Nablus

On Monday, 05 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints in al-Moraba’a area and at the intersection of “Yitzhar” settlement, southeast of the city.

On Tuesday, 06 July 2021, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to “Homesh” settlement on Nablus-Jenin Road, northwest of the city.

Hebron

On Thursday, 01 July 2021, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrance to Fawwar refugee camp, at the southern and western entrances to Hebron, and at the entrance to Beit Einun village.

On Friday, 02 July 2021, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Sa’ir and Khasa villages and at the southern entrance to Halhul city.

On Saturday, 03 July 2021, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Awwa and Surif villages, at the southern entrance to Hebron, and at the northern entrance to Yatta city.

On Sunday, 04 July 2021, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Sa’ir and Idhna villages, at the eastern entrance to Dura city.

On Tuesday, 05 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Sa’ir and ad-Dhahiriya villages.

On Wednesday, 07 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron and at the entrance to Al-Arroubr refugee camp.

Salfit

On Friday, 02 July 2021, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Deir Ballut and Qarawat Bani Hassan villages, west of Salfit.

Qalqilya

On Saturday, 03 July 2021, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Azzun village, east of the city.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Say hello to the diplo-Taliban

 

July 09, 2021

Deploying diplomatic skills refined from Doha to Moscow, the Taliban in 2021 has little to do with its 2001 incarnation

by Pepe Escobar with permission, and first posted at Asia Times

A very important meeting took place in Moscow last week, virtually hush-hush. Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian Security Council, received Hamdullah Mohib, Afghanistan’s national security adviser.

Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (center) and other members of the Taliban arrive to attend an international conference in Moscow on March 18, 2021. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko / AFP

There were no substantial leaks. A bland statement pointed to the obvious: They “focused on the security situation in Afghanistan during the pullout of Western military contingencies and the escalation of the military-political situation in the northern part of the country.”

The real story is way more nuanced. Mohib, representing embattled President Ashraf Ghani, did his best to convince Patrushev that the Kabul administration represents stability. It does not – as the subsequent Taliban advances proved.

Patrushev knew Moscow could not offer any substantial measure of support to the current Kabul arrangement because doing so would burn bridges the Russians would need to cross in the process of engaging the Taliban. Patrushev knows that the continuation of Team Ghani is absolutely unacceptable to the Taliban – whatever the configuration of any future power-sharing agreement.

So Patrushev, according to diplomatic sources, definitely was not impressed.

This week we can all see why. A delegation from the Taliban political office went to Moscow essentially to discuss with the Russians the fast-evolving mini-chessboard in northern Afghanistan. The Taliban had been to Moscow four months earlier, along with the extended troika (Russia, US, China, Pakistan) to debate the new Afghan power equation.

On this trip, they emphatically assured their interlocutors there’s no Taliban interest in invading any territory of their Central Asia neighbors.

It’s not excessive, in view of how cleverly they’ve been playing their hand, to call the Taliban desert foxes. They know well what Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been repeating: Any turbulence coming from Afghanistan will be met with a direct response from the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

In addition to stressing that the US withdrawal – actually, repositioning – represents the failure of its Afghan “mission,” Lavrov touched on the two really key points:

The Taliban is increasing its influence in the northern Afghanistan border areas; and Kabul’s refusal to form a transitional government is “promoting a belligerent solution” to the drama. This implies Lavrov expects much more flexibility from both Kabul and the Taliban in the Sisyphean power-sharing task ahead.

And then, relieving the tension, when asked by a Russian journalist if Moscow will send troops to Afghanistan, Lavrov reverted to Mr Cool: “The answer is obvious.”

Mohammad Suhail Shaheen is the quite articulate spokesman for the Taliban political office. He’s adamant that “taking Afghanistan by military force is not our policy. Our policy is to find a political solution to the Afghan issue, which is continuing in Doha.” Bottom line: “We confirmed our commitment to a political solution here in Moscow once more.”

That’s absolutely correct. The Taliban don’t want a bloodbath. They want to be embraced. As Shaheen has stressed, it would be easy to conquer major cities – but there would be blood. Meanwhile, the Taliban already control virtually the whole border with Tajikistan.

New face of the Taliban: The insurgents’ spokesman Mohammad Suhail Shaheen speaks to media in Moscow on February 15, 2021.

The 2021 Taliban have little in common with their 2001 pre-war on terror incarnation. The movement has evolved from a largely Ghilzai Pashtun rural guerrilla insurgency to a more inter-ethnic arrangement, incorporating Tajiks, Uzbeks and even Shi’ite Hazaras – a group that was mercilessly persecuted during the 1996-2001 years of Taliban power.

Reliable figures are extremely hard to come by, but 30% of the Taliban today may be non-Pashtuns. One of the top commanders is ethnically Tajik – and that explains the lightning-flash “soft” blitzkrieg in northern Afghanistan across Tajik territory.

I visited a lot of these geologically spectacular places in the early 2000s. The inhabitants, all cousins, speaking Dari, are now turning over their villages and towns to Tajik Taliban as a matter of trust. Very few – if any – Pashtuns from Kandahar or Jalalabad are involved. That illustrates the absolute failure of the central government in Kabul.

Those who do not join the Taliban simply desert – as did the Kabul forces manning the checkpoint close to the bridge over the Pyanj river, off the Pamir highway; they escaped without a fight to Tajik territory, actually riding the Pamir highway. The Taliban hoisted their flag in this crucial intersection without firing a shot.

The Afghan National Army’s chief, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadza, fresh into his role by appointment from Ghani, is keeping a brave face: ANA’s priority is to protect the main cities (so far, so good, because the Taliban are not attacking them); border crossings (that’s not going so well), and highways (mixed results so far).

This interview with Suhail Shaheen is quite enlightening – as he feels compelled to stress that “we don’t have access to media” and laments the “baseless” barrage of “propaganda launched against us,” which implies that Western media should admit the Taliban have changed.

Shaheen points out that “it’s not possible to take 150 districts in just six weeks by fighting,” which connects to the fact that the security forces “do not trust the Kabul administration.” In all districts that have been conquered, he swears, “ the forces came to the Taliban voluntarily.”

A smoke plume rises from houses amid an ongoing fight between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters in the western city of Qala-i- Naw, the capital of Badghis province, on July 7. The Taliban launched its first major assault on a provincial capital since the US military began its final drawdown of troops from the country.

Shaheen makes a statement that could have come straight from Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s: The “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan are the real freedom fighters.” That may be the object of endless debate across the lands of Islam.

But one fact is indisputable: The Taliban are sticking by the agreement they signed with the Americans on February 29, 2020. And that implies a total American exit: “If they don’t abide by their commitments, we have a clear right of retaliation.”

Thinking ahead to “when an Islamic government is in place,” Shaheen insists there will be “good relations” with every nation, and embassies and consulates will not be targeted.

The Taliban “goal is clear: to end the occupation.” And that brings us to the tricky gambit of Turkish troops “protecting” Kabul airport. Shaheen is crystal clear. “No NATO forces – that means continuation of occupation,” he proclaims. “When we have an independent Islamic country, then we will sign any agreement with Turkey that is mutually beneficial.”

Shaheen is involved in the ongoing, very complicated negotiations in Doha, so he cannot allow himself to commit the Taliban to any future power-sharing agreement. What he does say, even though “progress is slow” in Doha, is that, contrary to what was previously reported by media in Qatar, the Taliban will not present a formal written proposal to Kabul by the end of the month, The talks will continue.

Going hybrid?

Whatever the “Mission Accomplished” non-denial denials emanating from the White House, a few things are already clear on the Eurasia front.

The Russians, for one thing, are already engaging the Taliban, in detail, and may soon strike their name off their terror list.

The Chinese, for another, are assured that if the Taliban commits Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative, connecting via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, ISIS-Khorasan will not then be permitted to go on overdrive in Afghanistan bolstered by Uyghur jihadis currently in Idlib.

And nothing is off the table for Washington when it comes to derailing BRI. Crucial silos scattered across the deep state must be already at work replacing a forever war in Afghanistan with hybrid war, Syria-style.

Lavrov is very much aware of Kabul power brokers who would not say “no” to a new hybrid war arrangement. But the Taliban for their part have been very effective – preventing assorted Afghan factions from supporting Team Ghani.

As for the Central Asian “stans,” not a single one of them wants any forever wars or hybrid wars down the road.

Fasten your seat belts: It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

“Unchallenged Orientalism”: Why Liberals Suddenly Love the Lab Leak Theory

July 09th, 2021

By Alan Macleod

Source

The lab leak theory bears a striking resemblance to the WMD hoax of 2002, not only in the fact that one of its key players is literally the same journalist using potentially the same anonymous sources, but also in the bipartisan political and media support it enjoys.

WUHAN, CHINA — The theory that the COVID-19 pandemic began life in a Chinese laboratory is going viral. Once considering it an anti-science conspiracy theory, the corporate press has done a full 180° turn — and many progressive, alternative media figures are following in its footsteps.

Progressive news show “The Young Turks” recorded what was effectively an apology video to their audience, explaining their new direction. “It does appear that there is some indication that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, is the origin of the coronavirus pandemic,” host Ana Kasparian told viewers. Condemning the scientific journal The Lancet, co-host Cenk Uygur explained that he had falsely placed his faith in scientists with political motives who had led him astray. Writing in The Guardian, left-wing commentator Thomas Frank flagellated himself for his “complacency” in believing the idea was a far-right conspiracy theory. The lab leak is “the most likely explanation for the origin of COVID-19,” Saagar Enjeti told his mostly progressive viewership of “Rising,” announcing that, from now on, we should be “ten times more skeptical of the Chinese government.”

This new change in outlook for so many progressive media outlets is not based on new evidence. Rather, it appears to be a result of two new articles and a change in stance from the Biden administration itself. In early May, The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists republished a Medium blog post by controversial science writer Nicholas Wade. In an 11,000-word essay, Wade claims that Wuhan itself is simply far too far away from Yunnan Province — where coronavirus-carrying bats make their home — for it to be the natural source of COVID-19. The most logical explanation, Wade asserts, is that the virus escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Wade claims that the virus’s furin cleavage site —  a point on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 where the protein can more easily divide to better infiltrate and take over human cells — must be man-made, as no such site exists in natural coronaviruses. He also notes the previously undisclosed conflict of interests that zoologist Peter Daszak has. Daszak was an organizer of the 2020 Lancet letter signed by dozens of top scientists calling the lab leak hypothesis a “conspiracy theory.” However, he did not disclose that his company, the EcoHealth Alliance, has links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

A view of the P4 lab and the Wuhan Institute of Virology is seen in China’s Hubei province, Feb. 3, 2021. Ng Han Guan | AP

Later that month, The Wall Street Journal released a report alleging that three employees of the Wuhan Institute of Virology came down with flu- or COVID-like symptoms in November 2019 and sought treatment in hospital. Although based solely on anonymous accusations from U.S. officials who refused to go on record, the story went viral and was picked up by a wide range of outlets, including Reuters, The Guardian, Forbes, NBC News, Business Insider, CNN, The New York Post, Yahoo News and The Hill.

Adding some intellectual weight to the theory was a letter published in Science Magazine, in which some 20 academics wrote that further inquiry into the source of the pandemic was necessary (although many, including its chief organizer, were at pains to state elsewhere they were highly skeptical of the lab-leak conspiracy). And after Dr. Anthony Fauci said he was “not convinced” of COVID-19’s natural origin, the Biden administration abruptly changed its position, the President ordering an intelligence-services investigation into the idea, launching the lab leak theory from a discredited fringe idea to an official position with surprising rapidity.

Professor David Robertson — Head of Viral Genomics and Bioinformatics at the University of Glasgow, U.K. — told MintPress:

It’s not very clear, given the lack of new (or any) credible evidence for a lab leak, why it’s been getting so much attention. There was a letter published in Science in May that quite sensibly supports the need for further investigation but this seems to have been hijacked by a vocal minority who are essentially advocates for a lab being involved as opposed to looking at the broader range of possibilities, and what the available evidence points towards.”

In addition to mainstream outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, a host of alternative media figures have lent credibility to Wade, basing their new opinions on his work. On the “Bad Faith” podcast with former Bernie Sanders Press Secretary Briahna Joy Gray, Thomas Frank described Wade’s article as an “incredible piece of journalism,” “quite impressive” and “the likeliest explanation.” Gray appeared to agree, the two having a long conversation about the origins of COVID-19 as if Wade’s thesis has effectively been proven correct. Journalist Michael Tracey wrote that Wade’s words prove the theory is “highly plausible.” Current Affairs Editor-in-Chief Nathan J. Robinson praised Wade’s report, agreeing that it is “at the very least, a spectacular coincidence” that COVID-19 exploded so close to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Meanwhile, Enjeti based a segment called “Media’s Lab Leak Failure Is the Next Iraq WMD” on the Wall Street Journal article, telling viewers that the lab leak theory is now “the most likely explanation for the origin of COVID-19.” Popular writer Matt Taibbi also took The Wall Street Journal’s accusations at face value, claiming that “the toothpaste [is] fully out of the tube: there [is] no longer any way to say the ‘lab origin’ hypothesis [is] too silly to be reported upon.”

A theory resting on shaky ground

What is particularly worrying in all this is that there are huge, gaping flaws in the analysis. First, Wade is not some neutral expert but a discredited, racist pseudoscientist. His 2014 book, “A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History,” contends that humanity could be broken down genetically into three distinct groups — Africans, Caucasians and East Asians — and that each are sufficiently genetically distinct from each other as to qualify as subspecies. He argued that Caucasians’ genes could explain “the rise of the West” and that African nations are poorer because they are inherently more violent and lazy, writing: “Variations in their nature, such as their time preference, work ethic and propensity to violence, have some bearing on the economic decisions [Africans] make.” Laughably, he later speculates that Asian women have smaller breasts because that is what is “much admired by Asian men.”

Nicholas Wade, next to the Chinese edition of his seminal work, “A Troublesome Inheritance.”

Perhaps his most controversial claim, however, is that Jewish people have evolved to be genetically predisposed to hoard money, writing:

From a glance at an Eskimo’s physique, it is easy to recognize an evolutionary process at work that has molded the human form for better survival in an arctic environment. Populations that live at high altitudes, like Tibetans, represent another adaptation to extreme environments; in this case, the changes in blood cell regulation are less visible but have been identified genetically. The adaptation of Jews to capitalism is another such evolutionary process.

The book was universally panned by scientists but was acclaimed by a host of neo-Nazi figures. Former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke, for instance, hailed the work as a “fascinating insight into how Jewish Supremacists attempt to guard the gates of scientific debate.” Of all the many alternative media figures praising Wade’s new revelations about Wuhan, only Robinson mentioned his past. Why a respected organization like The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists published such a person remains a mystery; MintPress asked the Bulletin for clarification but has not received an answer.

Wade’s pseudoscientific claims about the coronavirus furin might have been enough to convince progressive media stars who have no background in the field (as Frank wrote: “I am no expert in epidemics”). But they cannot fool trained scientists, who have hit back.

Virologists Angela L. Rasmussen and Stephen A. Goldstein counter that the furin site of SARS-CoV-2 has odd features that no human would ever design, making it “overwhelmingly likely” that it is natural in origin. Its sequence is suboptimal, meaning that it is relatively inefficient, bearing the hallmarks of “sloppy natural evolution.” “Any skilled virologist hoping to give a virus new properties this way would insert a furin site known to be more efficient,” they conclude.

Furthermore, the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s proximity to the outbreak is not inherently suspicious. Wuhan is a gigantic metropolis, larger than any city in the United States. It is an enormous transport and business hub situated in an area well-known for outbreaks of similar diseases and is, therefore, a natural choice for a research facility such as this. Yet there is a tendency in the West to think of it as some obscure village dominated by a virology lab. There is a myriad of laboratories in Los Angeles conducting not altogether dissimilar research. Yet if an epidemic were to break out there, it is unlikely that a natural origin would be so easily dismissed.

The SARS outbreak of the early 2000s was sparked in the markets of Guangdong, a similar distance from Yunnan as is Wuhan, with few at the time raising any eyebrows. Epidemics and pandemics usually begin in large cities as “pathogens often require heavily populated areas to become established,” one scientific study reminds us.

That is why it is particularly problematic that liberal icons like John Stewart and Stephen Colbert can ridicule the zoonotic transfer hypothesis believed by the vast majority of scientists to be the most likely explanation. “There’s been an outbreak of chocolatey goodness near Hershey, Pennsylvania. What do you think happened?” Stewart joked to an audience of millions. “Maybe it’s the fucking chocolate factory!”

If anything, The Wall Street Journal article is more suspect, given that it is based on nothing but anonymous state officials who refuse to share the evidence or go on the record. National security state operatives are among the least trustworthy sources it is possible to encounter, journalistically speaking, as it is part of their job to plant false information in order to alter public discourse. The only group less deserving of blind faith than natsec officials would be anonymous natsec officials. Yet many of the biggest and most embarrassing media blunders in recent years have been based on dodgy data from shadowy spooks feeding dubious intelligence to credulous dupes in the press.

Without a name to match a quote, a story’s credibility immediately drops, as there are no repercussions for the individual if they are untruthful. Sources (or journalists themselves, for that matter) could simply make up anything they wanted with no consequences. Therefore, using anonymous sources is strongly discouraged. The Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics insists reporters “identify sources whenever feasible” and that journalists must “always question sources’ motives before promising anonymity.”

Even worse, The Wall Street Journal article’s lead author is Michael R. Gordon, the reporter infamous for co-authorship of a notorious 2002 New York Times article claiming Saddam Hussein was seeking to build weapons of mass destruction, a piece widely credited as a keystone of the push to invade Iraq the following year. For that article, Gordon also relied upon anonymous state officials. That figures in alternative media are blindly repeating his evidence-free assertions while invoking the Iraq WMD scandal, as Enjeti did, is profoundly ironic.

Gordon, famous for co-authoring a notorious NYT article peddling the now-debunked Iraqi WMD claims, is a major proponent of the lab leak theory

Gordon’s claim — that three virologists were hospitalized with flu or COVID-like symptoms in late 2019 — has been categorically rejected by Dr. Shi Zhengli, a director at the Institute. Zhengli challenged the U.S. to provide the names of those who got ill, but has received no response. It has also been disputed by the only Western scientist working there at the time. “If people were sick, I assume that I would have been sick — and I wasn’t,” said Dr. Danielle Anderson, who says she is “dumbfounded” by the portrayal of the lab in the West: “What people are saying is just not how it is.”

Josh Cho, a media critic at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, told MintPress that embedded in much of the discussion about the lab leak is a distrust of China and Chinese people, explaining:

There is a largely unchallenged Orientalism or Sinophobia among Western progressives that makes them predisposed to think the Chinese government or Chinese scientists could or would hide evidence for a laboratory origin due to an innate and exceptional penchant for ‘authoritarianism,’ ‘secrecy’ or ‘dishonesty.’ This leads to a presumption of guilt, and an interpretation of every action of the Chinese government as suspicious, when it is most likely what any other government would do in China’s situation.”

Even if the anonymous U.S. intelligence proves to be accurate, it may not be particularly surprising or revealing. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is an enormous institution with hundreds of employees. That three people there might develop flu-like symptoms in November is far from suspicious. Furthermore, the implications of going to hospital in China are completely different from in the U.S. In China, healthcare is nationalized and so a hospital visit is not something an individual avoids at all costs — unlike in the U.S., where it can bankrupt you. Moreover, many general practitioners work from hospitals rather than out of small clinics, meaning that “hospital” could simply translate to “sought basic medical consultation.” Thus, if confirmed, The Wall Street Journal scoop still could be completely mundane.

Cold warriors’ favorite theory

As former MintPress staff writer Alex Rubenstein reported late last month, the lab leak theory has been mainstreamed by hackish, hawkish frauds who, for years, have been pushing for war with China. Among its early adopters was Trump advisor Steve Bannon, who claimed in March 2020 that COVID-19 was a Chinese bioweapon unleashed on the world. While advising Trump, Bannon constantly fear mongered about China and declared he had no doubt that the U.S. would be at war with Beijing within a few years. Then-President Trump, who claims that global warming was a “hoax” invented by China to destroy the U.S., insisted he had evidence the virus began in a Chinese lab but refused to divulge it. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, among the biggest China hawks in Washington, also repeated the conspiracy.

While distinctly unfashionable in 2020, the lab leak idea was kept alive by warmongering neoconservative journalists like Josh Rogin of The Washington Post, who is now a regular guest on progressive media platforms like Krystal Ball and Enjeti’s “Breaking Points.” “You almost have to see it to believe how depraved this is. Indistinguishable from ‘Fox and Friends,’” remarked a dismayed Sam Sacks of Means TV.

These neocon talking points have been laundered into alternative media by those critiquing the establishment, Democratic-aligned press for its complete about-turn on the issue. Appearing on Fox News, Glenn Greenwald praised Rogin and condemned corporate media for their groupthink. “Journalists so often judge things not by what is true or not true but by what is politically beneficial to the partisan audience that they’re serving,” he said, even adding that “maybe Trump was right” about the virus’ origins.

Appearing on “The Jimmy Dore Show,” Taibbi was of a similar mindset, stating:

Originally what happened with this story was that, like everything else in the Trump era, the coverage of COVID was heavily politicized from the very start. The idea of a lab origin for COVID was associated with Trump, Mike Pompeo and Tom Cotton, so it was automatically bad and a conspiracy theory. And that’s really how the press treated it for the better part of a year.”

Dore responded that the media were a bunch of “spineless cowards” who pushed a “false narrative” about the lab leak theory being wrong.

Going unconsidered, apparently, is that the Democrats’ change of heart might not have anything to do with new scientific evidence and more to do with the fact that they now control the reins of power and are cynically using the same tactics Republicans used before them to ramp up hostility towards China.

During the Trump administration, Democrats condemned the treatment of immigrants on the border, raising hell about “concentration camps” and “kids in cages.” Yet, as soon as they found themselves in office, the pretense dropped and they pursued largely the same policies on the border. Speaking in Guatemala, Vice-President Kamala Harris sounded positively Trumpian as she warned those listening “do not come” to the United States. “The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our borders,” she added. Meanwhile, immigrant children are still being detained in cages, except that media have rechristened them “overflow facilities” and the camps have the word “bienvenidos” (Spanish for “welcome”) painted on their roofs. Despite this, no one in alternative media claims that Trump was right all along about the kids in cages.

Going further back, Obama and the Democrats condemned the Bush administration’s endless wars. Yet once in office, Obama expanded them, and was bombing seven countries simultaneously by the end of his tenure.

Stopping China’s economic rise is a bipartisan priority, and the Biden administration has proven to be every bit as committed to increasing aggressive actions towards Beijing as Trump was. None of this is to say that criticizing establishment media’s abrupt change of direction on the lab leak theory is not important or noteworthy. But it is all being done from the assumption that now the media are on the right track, that the global scientific community is not to be trusted, and that Bannon, Cotton and the rest were ahead of the curve. What many in alternative media appear not to have considered is the possibility that now that the Democrats are in office, they are attempting to weaponize the same smears as a way of increasing the pressure on China, with the media following suit.

Ignoring the science

A large majority of the public now believe COVID-19 started in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last month, more than three times as many Americans told pollster YouGov that the theory was true than said it was false. Some 83% of Americans also support punishing China if the lab leak is proven correct, including by sanctioning it and forcing it to pay reparations to the dead or affected — something that could bankrupt the country almost overnight. This is music to the neocons’ ears, who likely can barely believe that so many progressive, anti-war voices are going along with their theory.

What is striking about the tone and outlook of the media coverage of the lab leak theory is how strongly it jars with the opinion of scientists. As Cho told MintPress:

A lot of the progressive commentators who are now giving more credibility to the lab leak theory because they are persuaded it’s more plausible now than before don’t seem to be aware of the latest scientific developments and arguments [and] that most scientists are making for the case that SARS-CoV-2 developed naturally.”

Professor Robertson was of a similar opinion:

At some point the lab-leak narrative seems to have become a story in its own right and has been written about as if it’s an equivalent possibility to a natural origin for SARS-CoV-2, which is simply not the case. The available evidence supports zoonotic spillover similar to the first SARS-virus.”

In March, a large team of international experts from the World Health Organization traveled to China and concluded that a lab leak was “extremely unlikely.” The leader of the team, Danish scientist Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, said that after visiting Wuhan he is more confident than ever that the idea is false. Yet media reporting on the study came away with exactly the opposite conclusion, sowing discord and doubt. “Theory that COVID came from a Chinese lab takes on new life in wake of WHO report,” ran NPR’s headline.

A woman holds a sign at a protest against stay-at-home orders outside the Missouri Capitol. Jeff Roberson | AP

Writing in Wired, scientist and science communicator Adam Rogers criticized much of the coverage. “The evidence hasn’t changed since spring of 2020. That evidence was always incomplete, and may never be complete. History and science suggest the animal-jump is way more likely than the lab-leak/cover-up,” he wrote, comparing lab leak theorists to evolution deniers and tobacco lobbyists sowing doubt by insisting we “teach the controversy” where there is none.

Dan Samorodnitsky, senior editor of Massive Science and a figure who has a background working in virus research, was even more scathing about the return of the theory. “If the question is ‘are both hypotheses possible?’ the answer is yes…If the question is ‘are they equally likely?’ the answer is absolutely not,” he wrote, explaining:

One hypothesis requires a colossal cover-up and the silent, unswerving, leak-proof compliance of a vast network of scientists, civilians, and government officials for over a year. The other requires only for biology to behave as it always has, for a family of viruses that have done this before to do it again. The zoonotic spillover hypothesis is simple and explains everything. It’s scientific malpractice to pretend that one idea is equally as meritorious as the other.

“I would be embarrassed to stand up in front of a room of scientists, lay out both hypotheses, and then pretend that one isn’t clearly, obviously better than the other,” Samorodnitsky concluded.

Confidence in a natural origin of COVID-19 has actually grown over time, as the virus’s evolutionary trajectory has undermined the idea that it was artificially designed, not that one would guess that from listening to media or to politicians. Meanwhile, as more investigation is done into the earliest patients, it is clear that a majority of them — including two of the first three documented cases — were at the Huanan wet market where a wide range of wild animals that could potentially carry the virus were sold. There are still zero confirmed cases of staff falling ill at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a building over 17 miles away from Huanan market, where data mapping shows that early cases were clustered around.

Earlier this week, The Lancet, which came in for considerable criticism for its previous publication condemning lab leak conspiracy theorists, refused to back down, maintaining that the idea “remain[s] without scientifically validated evidence that directly supports it” (It did however, include a conflict of interests section this time, tacitly accepting that this part of Wade’s criticism was indeed valid). Its authors also directly warned of the danger of scapegoating China. “Recrimination has not, and will not, encourage international cooperation and collaboration,” they wrote. “It is time to turn down the heat of the rhetoric and turn up the light of scientific inquiry if we are to be better prepared to stem the next pandemic, whenever it comes and wherever it begins.”

The coming war on China

The backdrop of the Biden administration’s sudden change of heart to parrot its predecessor is the increased U.S. buildup of hostilities against Beijing. President Joe Biden recently stated that the defining struggle of the 21st century will be that of the U.S. against China. Throughout 2020, the President’s team quietly stated that their entire industrial and foreign policy would revolve around “compet[ing] with China,” with their top priorities being “dealing with authoritarian governments, defending democracy and tackling corruption, as well as understanding how these challenges intersect with new technologies, such as 5G, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology.”

Earlier this year, NATO think tank the Atlantic Council published a 26,000-word report laying out its strategy to suffocate the People’s Republic. It advised Biden to draw a number of red lines around the country, past which the U.S. would directly intervene (presumably militarily). These include Chinese attempts to expand into the South China Sea, an attack on the disputed Senkaku Islands, and moves against Taiwan’s independence. A North Korean strike on any of its neighbors would also necessitate an American response against China, the report insists, because “China must fully own responsibility for the behavior of its North Korean ally.” Any backing down from this stance, the Council states, would result in national “humiliation” for the United States. If this could all be established, it noted, regime change in Beijing could be a distinct possibility. Top military officials like Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster have called for the establishment of an “Asian NATO” to achieve this dream. already there are well over 400 military bases encircling the country.

The U.S. is also conducting military operations in the region, readying itself for a potential war. Last summer, American ships sailed to the Chinese coast, the U.S.S. Rafael Peralta coming to within 41 nautical miles of the coastal megacity Shanghai. Meanwhile, American planes, including nuclear bombers, fly overhead, attempting to gain intelligence on Chinese defenses.

In addition to the military buildup, the U.S. has begun an economic and information war against Beijing, the Trump administration placing sanctions on the country and attempting to halt the expansion of the Belt and Road initiative, block Huawei’s global 5G rollout, and force Chinese-owned social media app TikTok to sell to an American company. At the same time, Twitter, under counsel from a U.S.-funded think tank, decided to delete more than 170,000 Chinese accounts in a single day, the think tank having accused them of spreading pro-China narratives.

The result of the increased hostilities has been the meteoric rise of anti-China sentiment in the U.S., along with a similar spike in anti-Asian hate crimes. The number of Americans seeing China as their number one enemy has more than doubled in 12 months. This is not a partisan issue, according to Pew Research, with a similar increase in “get tough on China” attitudes among Democratic and Republican voters.

It is this context in which the return of the lab leak theory should be seen. Lab leaks do happen. But there is precious little hard evidence that such is the case here. That so many of the nation’s top alternative news figures — individuals who stood against U.S. wars and against similar campaigns, such as RussiaGate — are buying into this one is remarkable. This is especially the case in light of the fact that the evidence is so weak and comes from highly discredited sources, while scientists remain highly skeptical of the theory.

The lab leak hypothesis was first pushed by the far-right and signal boosted by President Trump. In recent weeks, the Democrats have appropriated it wholesale, as they have with several other Republican policies. Corporate media’s newfound interest in the theory has nothing to do with its veracity, as many in alternative spaces have alleged.

The lab leak theory bears a striking resemblance to the weapons of mass destruction hoax of 2002-03, not only in the fact that one of its key players is literally the same journalist using potentially the same anonymous sources, but also in the bipartisan political and media support for the project, all while ignoring the opinions of the scientific community. That so many in alternative media who question war and U.S. intervention not only cannot see that, but are invoking the WMD story to bolster their own side, is extraordinary, and shows how badly the need is to build up a healthy media ecosystem.

Between 2001 and 2003, the public was subjected to a constant barrage of pro-war propaganda. But at least nascent alternative media offered a dissenting voice. Anti-war voices pushing the lab leak theory might one day find it is too late to stop the clock on the dangerous drive towards a second Cold War. If there is any conflict with China, it will make Iraq look like a tea party by comparison. But truth, in war, is always the first casualty.

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