Current military officials share the same assessment, saying Israel is losing the war, deterrence and the captives

Keir Starmer says he wants to learn from Italy’s ‘dramatic’ statistics. But a Guardian investigation reveals that EU money goes to officers who are involved in shocking abuse, leaving people to die in the desert and colluding with smugglers

What we know about Israel's bloody attacks targeting consumer electronic devices in Lebanon

General assembly votes overwhelmingly in favour of Palestinian resolution after ICJ ruling in July

As Israeli forces launch repeated attacks on civilian areas in Gaza, expand their deadly incursion into the West Bank and threaten retaliation for strikes by Hezbollah and Houthis, we discuss ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas with Palestinian writer Amjad Iraqi and former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy. Despite apparent divisions among Israeli leadership over the terms of an acceptable deal — if such a deal even exists — all of the Israeli proposals are “united by an assumption that Israel is going to be maintaining overarching control of the Gaza Strip,” says Iraqi. Meanwhile, in the United States, what Levy calls “the Biden administration’s slavish devotion to running cover” for Israel’s genocidal assault is threatening the Democratic Party’s attempt to hold onto executive power after the upcoming presidential election.

At least 12 people were killed and over 2,800 people were injured Tuesday in Lebanon when electronic pagers used by many members of Hezbollah — who had switched to the older technology over concerns of mobile phones’ vulnerability to security breaches — exploded simultaneously across the country in a coordinated attack on the group. Individual explosions occurred in supermarkets, cafes, houses and in other public places. Many of the injuries were sustained by civilians who were not carrying the pagers themselves, including at least two children who died from their wounds. According to a Reuters report, Israel’s Mossad spy agency had managed to plant explosive material in a batch of pagers bought in recent months by Hezbollah, which has vowed to retaliate, deepening the risks of a broader regional war. We discuss the attack with three guests: Beirut-based journalist Mohamad Kleit, Human Rights Watch’s Ramzi Kaiss and Palestinian American journalist Rami Khouri. Kaiss says the “indiscriminate attack” on the Lebanese population — which Kleit additionally describes as “terrorist” — is “unlawful under the rules of war.” “What the Israeli attack using the pagers did was completely throw out the rulebook,” says Khouri, as eyes are on the region in preparation for another possible Israeli escalation.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been labeled "antisemite of the Week" by StopAntisemitism after her arrest at an anti-Israel rally, accusing Thunberg of using her platform for antisemitism.

Editorial: Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power depends on his nation being at war. The region is paying a high price

May 17, 2014