Hussam Ayloush’s Post

Quote"Those of us who are continuing to raise our voices on Gaza must be conscious of this shifting political dynamic and its implications for our leverage and tactics. On the one hand, our calls, including for an immediate ceasefire and an immediate suspension of lethal arms transfers to the IDF, remain appropriately directed to the only person who has the power to address them today: Joe Biden. On the other, we must engage with the new candidates for President and VP, cognizant that they have less power to change the immediate situation, and not having Biden's "track record" on Israel have an even tighter line to walk with the party establishment, the media, and key donors. In that context, we must be unwavering in our demands, but effective in our tactics. Coalition-building in particular remains vital - demonstrating to the candidates that Gaza is not a concern of the few, but of the many, not a focus for some on the perimeter, but a core concern for millions across the rainbow coalition that is the Democratic party. But however we do it, we need to keep Gaza top of mind for the campaign, and do so in a way that incentivizes their continued substantive commitments to change. NYT article: https://lnkd.in/ekfHDgkc Harris Nat Sec Advisor's Tweet: https://lnkd.in/eYjTQGSG Archived NYT article: https://archive.ph/iWMP8"

Two things happened in Michigan on Wednesday evening. First, in the receiving line for Vice President Harris, leaders of the Uncommitted Movement spoke with her briefly and asked her to consider an arms embargo on Israel, and Harris agreed to continue the conversation. Then, in her rally, protestors raised their voices to elevate the issue of Gaza, and Harris told them "if you want Trump to win then say that, otherwise I am speaking." Harris' response to protester's chants in Michigan was, to put it mildly, unfortunate, and a missed opportunity for her to acknowledge the justice and humanity of their pleas. At the same time, the statement issued by her team thereafter (link below), which included both a reference to upholding international law and a subtle but, to this parser of diplomatic wording, fascinating contextualizing qualifier to the standard line on Israel's right to defend itself, while cloaked in more nuance than any of us would like, was encouraging. As the massacre and starvation of Gaza continues, we should be conscious of the changing political context in the U.S. When Biden was running, Gaza protests were directed at a single person who was both the decision-maker empowered to change the policy, and the candidate whose re-election may have hinged on this one issue. Now, Harris is the candidate, and the Democrats are celebrating a moment of sudden and rare party unity. On the current trajectory, though it is still very early, a Democratic Presidential victory suddenly seems not just a roll of the dice, but a distinct possibility. Those of us who are continuing to raise our voices on Gaza must be conscious of this shifting political dynamic and its implications for our leverage and tactics. On the one hand, our calls, including for an immediate ceasefire and an immediate suspension of lethal arms transfers to the IDF, remain appropriately directed to the only person who has the power to address them today: Joe Biden. On the other, we must engage with the new candidates for President and VP, cognizant that they have less power to change the immediate situation, and not having Biden's "track record" on Israel have an even tighter line to walk with the party establishment, the media, and key donors. In that context, we must be unwavering in our demands, but effective in our tactics. Coalition-building in particular remains vital - demonstrating to the candidates that Gaza is not a concern of the few, but of the many, not a focus for some on the perimeter, but a core concern for millions across the rainbow coalition that is the Democratic party. But however we do it, we need to keep Gaza top of mind for the campaign, and do so in a way that incentivizes their continued substantive commitments to change.   NYT article: https://lnkd.in/ekfHDgkc Harris Nat Sec Advisor's Tweet: https://lnkd.in/eYjTQGSG Archived NYT article: https://archive.ph/iWMP8

This is leadership.

When asked by media and allies I have expressed a belief that a Harris presidency would be "slightly better" than the Biden Presidency has been for Gaza, in part because she is not a hard-cast ideologue on this issue as Biden is, and in part because her team are more moderate and reasonable (and frankly also more thoughtful and self-aware) than Biden's team are. But the devil is in the details. When it comes to those details, it is hard to point to a specific area where we can be sure a Harris presidency would be better. Would they be more likely to condition or suspend arms transfers? They have been explicit that they would not. Would they enforce the U.S. laws already on the books, such as 620I or Leahy? They have not said they would. Would they stand up for the rights of peaceful protestors on campuses across America? They have given no sign of doing so, and indeed, Harris' responses both to the protests at the time of Netanyahu's visit to Washington DC, and to protests at her own campaign events, have been deeply disappointing - and their unwillingness to even give a Palestinian-American a voice at the Democratic Convention was a very worrying sign. I also believe that no individual, not even at the level of the President of the United States, can bring transformative change to U.S. policy on this issue in the next four years given how firmly entrenched the current approach is across American politics - this is something that will take many years to fix, and in the coming weeks I will be unveiling a new effort to address this strategically, holistically, and effectively. In the meantime, I, and others I have spoken to, would like to believe that Harris would be slightly better than where we are. But there is only so long we can wave our hands at generalities and presumptions - we need clear words from the Harris campaign that give a basis for these hopes. Without those, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hold to such hopes, and the polls demonstrate that the Harris campaign should be increasingly concerned about the implications of this gap between hopes and words - let alone actions - for outcomes of the election in key states. The ball is in their, and her, court.

Dispatch: Georgia faces its most serious democratic crisis as the country's last democratically elected leader, President Salome Zourabichvili, refuses to recognize the election of a pro-Russian successor through a restricted electoral college. Former footballer Mikhail Kavelashvili secured the presidency with 224 votes from a 300-member college - marking the first time in Georgia's modern history without direct universal suffrage. The constitutional reform that enabled this change has been criticized as a move to strengthen the ruling party's control. Thousands of protesters now fill Tbilisi's streets, facing heavily armed police forces. The ruling Georgian Dream party has warned of violence if demonstrations continue, while President Zourabichvili stands with protesters, refusing to leave office until new parliamentary elections are held. https://lnkd.in/d4S96Ywj The situation highlights the growing tension between Georgia's European aspirations and increasing Russian influence, with democratic institutions hanging in the balance.

Yesterday, Donald Trump was complaining that he lacks the support of the majority of the Jewish community for the November election. 😳Trump puts the support between 60% and 40% in favor of Harris. I think Trump is right, and there is a bitter and good reason about it .  It has become apparent that with Biden and Harris in power, the Netanyahu & Gallant Team (both indicted persons by ICC for war crimes) has enjoyed a full and unconditional support in their genocidal war against the Palestinian and Zionist unlawful expansion in the West Bank and beyond. So why would the Zionist Regime, and their surrogates here in US (AIPAC  and Others) would change horses in the midstream at such a critical juncture?, and when it is working so good for them? The record shows that between Obama and Biden, the Israeli War Machine had received the highest money and weapons compared with Trump of other GOP governments. To add more, the Trump- Netanyahu meeting at Mara Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida was not with full of praises, rather cold, and Trump in the closing statement, was critical of Netanyahu by warning that his actions could lead to a World War III 😳 ? My take is that under a new Harris presidency , the US Policy towards Israel will be the same O… S… and it has been proven to be subservient of everything Israel wants to do. This is not a comment for Trump’s endorsement ,NO, absolutely not. But I believe that unless Harris changes her position in the next month or so , the moral and politically correct position, for every decent citizen, it is to have an obligation to confront these horrendous crimes being committed by Israel with the complicity of the present Biden - Harris administration, and consequently, choose to take the position of #UNCOMMITTED in the next election. So Josh Paul is mostly correct again 👍🙏

Today, a global protest is taking place in more than 300 cities around the world to raise awareness of the situation in Venezuela and increase pressure on international authorities to take action. My social networks today belong to my home country. I don’t ask you for anything. We just want the world to know that Venezuelans are being robbed of their freedom, and tortured and killed if they protest in the country. So, those of us who are outside are the voice of those who have been silenced. As of September 28, 2024, the political situation in Venezuela remains highly volatile and characterized by severe repression and human rights violations. The July 28 presidential election, in which President Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner, has been widely disputed. International observers, including the United Nations Electoral Technical Team and the Carter Center, have questioned the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, citing the government’s refusal to release detailed results and conduct independent audits. The aftermath of the elections has seen widespread protests across Venezuela, met with unprecedented levels of state violence and repression. Human rights organizations have documented over 24 killings and more than 2,400 arrests in the context of protests. Many of those detained include children and opposition leaders, with reports of torture, sexual abuse, and arbitrary detentions. A climate of fear persists, with opposition members and activists being targeted through arrests and intimidation. Internationally, there has been a strong response. A coalition of 31 countries, including the United States, Canada, and several European and Latin American nations, issued a joint statement calling for the release of political prisoners and an independent review of the election results. The statement emphasized the need for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to restore democratic institutions in Venezuela. Overall, the political crisis in Venezuela has deepened, with growing calls from both domestic and international actors for greater accountability and respect for human rights in the country. #venezuela #venezuelalibre #YoMeSumo #hastaelfinal

It’s Not Over Until We Win. The protest didn’t begin in November—it has been building for years. In March 2023, massive protests erupted across Georgia, with crowds of 200,000 to 350,000 people. The trigger? The government’s introduction of a Russian-style law requiring organizations to register as "foreign agents" if 20% of their funding originated from international sources. The law poses a direct threat to democracy, undermining civil society, free media, and vital sectors like culture, which depend on international grants for development and global engagement. Faced with public outrage and international condemnation, the government “denied”approval of the law in 2023. Yet, it was only a tactical retreat. By June 2024, the law reemerged and was approved, sparking another waves of resistance. This betrayal was followed by widespread repression. Peaceful demonstrators were arrested, brutally beaten by police, and ambushed at night by organized groups. These crackdowns failed to break the Georgian spirit; instead, they strengthened the resolve of the people. Despite clear warnings from the EU, international organizations, and Western leaders, the Georgian government continued its authoritarian trajectory. Rigged elections in 2024, plagued by vote-buying and manipulation, further undermined trust in the democratic process. Then, in November, the ultimate betrayal came: the government announced a halt to Georgia’s progress toward EU integration, abandoning the aspirations of its citizens. These cascading events—the restrictive law, the violent crackdowns, injustice and the stolen elections, and the EU path's derailment—have culminated in an unprecedented uprising. For 44 days and counting, Georgians have taken to the streets, refusing to accept this dark course. This is a decisive moment. The people of Georgia have declared, “enough is enough.”Together, we will stand, we will fight for our rights and we will prevail. It’s not over—because we won’t stop until we win. Video credit: Holm Case #Georgiaprotest #Georgiaonthemove #Georgiaintransition #StandWithGeorgia #spreadtheword

It was revealed this week that nearly 20 Green Party of England and Wales General Election candidates have shared antisemitic slurs & racist conspiracy theories, backed pro-Palestinian protests calling for intifada & genocide & justified the Hamas massacre of Oct 7th as a legitimate act of resistance. Some of the most egregious examples include comparing Zionism to cancer, claiming the Hamas atrocities were orchestrated by Israel as a way to justify the response in Gaza & in the case of Kefentse Dennis, the Green equalities & diversity co-ordinator, that the Hamas rocket attacks indiscriminately targeting civilians in Israel were an example of "Palestine defending itself as it is legally allowed to" & that the demonstration that took place at a remembrance march for the victims of the Holocaust at Auschwitz was a celebration. The Greens believe that they are on track for their best election results yet in their push to become a mainstream party, with YouGov having them polling at 7%. They are expected to hold the Parliamentary seat of Brighton Pavilion & potentially take Bristol Central. They are the largest party on a number of other English councils across multiple towns and cities, which on this evidence Jews would not be welcome in. So ask yourself why a party who in their own words have a single goal, to bring about a fairer, greener country, who's focus is on the cost of living crisis & climate & environmental issues, appear far more obsessed with the crisis & conflict in the Middle East. Ask yourself why when Mothin Ali won a seat on Leeds City Council for the Greens, he described it as a "win for the people of Gaza". He just happens to be the same individual who had only weeks earlier been involved in the harrassment of a Jewish University chaplain outside his home. The answer to these questions is that after years of well-funded libellous campaigns, Israel has become for many on the left a model of imperialist white supremacy. The simple slanderous message being disseminated that Palestinians are "indigenous natives" & "people of colour", while Jews are "privileged & colonialist white Europeans." The combination of antisemitic & anti-Zionist tendencies in the radical left, along with a well funded Islamist influence, are combining to cause this existential threat to Jewish existence in the UK. The narrative has now grown into rejecting Israel's right to exist, denying our factual history & bond to the land & denying that Jews are historical victims of genocide & also the victims of Oct 7th. The Green Party of England and Wales as a mainstream political party in the UK should frighten you, this is the radical left finding legitimacy & influence. Stand up, speak out and be proud, we cannot allow this to be the future of our country. https://lnkd.in/e5aKHnyj