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The Wire
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
Watching a Breakdown
Should we be glad that France has finally announced that it will recognise the state of Palestine in September, at the United Nations, after 21 months of steadfastly supporting Israel's carnage in Gaza? That Britain's Parliament has, at last, called for a ceasefire in probably the most brutal one-sided 'war' the modern world has seen? Should we be relieved that India, too, has called for a ceasefire, after studiously abstaining from any such demand in every international forum? I suppose we should, even though it is too little, and almost too late. A great deal has been written about the world having lost its moral compass with regard to Gaza. But what morality are we talking about? The morality of international law? Despite its impeccable intentions it has never been enforceable, and as the eminent Palestinian writer and human rights lawyer Raja Shehadeh says, '...it has never been Palestine's salvation.' The old Christian moral order, based on a clear articulation of good and evil, right and wrong, sin and redemption, ceased to exist a long time ago. A secular morality, whose bedrock is humanism, its creed respect for the other's dignity and, yes, humanity? That seems to have broken down completely. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's cry from the heart about the international community's 'lack of compassion, lack of truth, lack of humanity' is a painful, helpless acknowledgement of that breakdown. But what we are also seeing is the breakdown of language; both, the cynical distortion of meaning and deliberate subversion of words, as well as the exhaustion of vocabulary to render the unspeakable, to communicate the enormity and wanton cruelty, of what we are witnessing. Most writing on Gaza now is a blur of words, robbed of any real value. Indeed, as the poet Meena Alexander says, when violence becomes so appalling and overwhelming, we enter what she calls 'a zone of radical illiteracy'. And yet, perhaps it's only the poets who can now recount this breakdown of humanity, mourn its death. What words can I offer? What words can explain the Sound of a child's tongue scraping Against rust for a taste of flour? writes a doctor in Gaza, as he looks at children scrabbling for rotten remains in a food truck. Remember those images of the Biafra famine, when the world rushed to send food to children who were more skeleton than flesh? The same images of Israeli-made starvation in Gaza, of ghost-like children, have seen a world mute. Also read: 'Not a Side Effect of War': Israeli Human Rights Groups Say Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza I have read so many reports, so many insightful accounts, so many political analyses of what the last 21 months signify in terms of full-spectrum hegemony and the assertion of control over West Asia, with Gaza as the battlefield. Intent, or should one say, malintent, has never been clearer or so openly stated. There is no doubt that, as the writer Suad Amiry, author of Menopausal Palestine, says, 'The Israelis, they say peace, peace, peace but what they mean is land, land, land.' I have no quarrel with any of the above. But I think what we are witness to is also the ascendance of intrinsically patriarchal states across the world, that are either in conflict or collusion with each other. Hamas is no less patriarchal and attuned to violence than Israel; the US today is no less patriarchal and repressive than Iran. And what of Europe? A long time ago, the Croatian writer Dubravka Ugrésic recounted a western European acquaintance describing her inner map of Europe: 'This is where I am. Around me are Germany, Belgium, France, England, down there is Italy, and, yes, there are Spain and Portugal as well, and here is a line. Beyond that line is nothing, a great blank...' On her inner map, the great blank stretched eastwards from Berlin. Ugrésic gave this great blank an identity: feminine Central Europe as distinct from masculine West Europe, and characterised their relationship as, 'Me Tarzan, you Jane', with Jane forever subordinate and submissive. In a supreme irony, West Europe now is the feminised Other of America, unable to bargain with a patriarchy that is adamant. Rada Ivekovic, (former) Yugoslavian political philosopher, writes from Paris, 'You say Europe has been silent for too long. But Europe's words have no value... Europe is no longer a political subject (meaning the EU, not individual countries)... there is no European position... Europe will not, and cannot, oppose the US or Israel at all. Do not expect anything from Europe.' As a strategic choice, it might opt for what feminists have called 'the convenience of subservience', a choice made in return for concessions, some privileges, and protection. Also read: Gaza Is Starving and Israel's Allies Can do More Than Just Watch But patriarchy's desire for domination and control are predicated on violence, and its stance is hypermasculine, at all times. All these traits and practices are manifest not only with regard to its alleged adversaries and opponents, but with its own (feminised) populations as well – dissenters and protestors, who need to be disciplined and browbeaten into submission. Internal patriarchies within countries do the same – Germany, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Iran, Israel, India... Gaza has blown open the lid on civil liberties everywhere. If violence is the overriding fact and the moral order has collapsed, where does that leave Palestine, a body – and body politic – that has been systematically battered and abused for close to 50 years? If ordinary – and yes, compassionate – people everywhere have risen in its defence in the hundreds of thousands but been beaten down by their own states, how will the phoenix rise from the ashes? And yet, in the ultimate analysis, it is only Palestine's humanity that has the capacity to redeem the world. Ritu Menon is a feminist publisher and writer.
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Romania to buy Israeli anti-aircraft systems for $2.3 bln
Romania has signed a framework agreement to buy Israeli-made Shorad-Vshorad anti-aircraft systems for more than 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), the Romanian defence ministry said on Monday. Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, Romania and other European countries have been looking to increase their defence spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. The European Union and NATO member state, which shares a 650 km (400 mile) border with Ukraine, has had Russian drone fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly over the past two years as Moscow attacks Ukrainian port infrastructure. The framework agreement with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems – maker with US backing of Israel's Iron Dome defence system – provides for the signing of three further contracts, through which six integrated anti-aircraft systems will be acquired. The contracts will also cover training, ammunition and logistical support. The framework agreement will run for seven years, with the first two Vshorad systems to be delivered within three years of the signing of the first of the three further contracts, the ministry said.
Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Romania to buy Israeli anti-aircraft systems for $2.3 billion
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Romania has signed a framework agreement to buy Israeli-made Shorad-Vshorad anti-aircraft systems for more than 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), the Romanian defence ministry said on Monday. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, Romania and other European countries have been looking to increase their defence spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in 2022. The European Union and NATO member state, which shares a 650 km (400 mile) border with Ukraine, has had Russian drone fragments fall onto its territory repeatedly over the past two years as Moscow attacks Ukrainian port infrastructure. The framework agreement with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems - maker with U.S. backing of Israel's Iron Dome defence system - provides for the signing of three further contracts, through which six integrated anti-aircraft systems will be acquired. The contracts will also cover training, ammunition and logistical support. The framework agreement will run for seven years, with the first two Vshorad systems to be delivered within three years of the signing of the first of the three further contracts, the ministry said. REUTERS
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Israel launches Dror-1 satellite: SpaceX Falcon 9 powers mission; digital payload onboard
Dror-1 satellite launched (Image credits: Israel War Room) Israel's new national communications satellite, Dror-1, was successfully launched into space early Sunday morning from Elon Musk 's SpaceX launch facility in Florida. The Dror-1 satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), weighs 4.5 tons, spans 17.8 meters, and is equipped with the largest transmission and reception antennas ever built in Israel, according to Israel National News. It is the first in a new line of satellites that will replace the older Amos series, and is designed to fully meet Israel's communication needs for the next 15 years. According to IAI, Dror-1 is among the most advanced communication satellites in the world, built almost entirely with Israeli-made technologies. It includes a digital communication payload and 'smartphone in space' features that allow for agile and adaptable communication throughout its operational life, as per Sat News. The satellite was carried into orbit on SpaceX Falcon 9 two-stage rocket. The booster, making its 13th flight, successfully returned to Earth, landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding a sonic boom over Florida. The second stage continued to push the satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), a path that will allow Dror-1 to reach a fixed position relative to Earth. SpaceX referred to the launch as 'Commercial GTO 1,' a naming convention it has not previously used. This mission marks SpaceX's 519th launch overall, and its 85th of 2025. In the coming days, Dror-1 will open its solar panels and antennas and begin maneuvering into its final geostationary orbit, a process expected to take about two weeks. IAI described the mission as a milestone for Israel's space capabilities, demonstrating its ability to develop and deploy cutting-edge satellite technology using mostly local resources.
France 24
27-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Iran arrests 700 'Israeli agents', but where are the weapons?
The reports show men in prison jumpsuits confessing that they were recruited as Israeli spies, along with weapons they were supposedly planning to use. Analysts say the confessions are probably coerced, and an analysis of the images by the FRANCE 24 Observers team found no evidence of any Israeli-made weapons among the supposed seizures. For its part, Iran is attempting to present itself as successfully arresting Israeli operatives and confiscating their weapons. The so-called "seized weapons' and arrested 'Mossad agents' appear to be staged, as there is no credible evidence to substantiate these claims. The 12-day war between Iran and Israel was, among other things, a devastating blow to Iranian intelligence. The Israeli military had precise intelligence on high-ranking generals, allowing them to successfully target and killing of at least 29 of them. And Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, apparently succeeded in recruiting large numbers of Iranians to serve as agents on the ground in the deployment of guided missiles and FPVs. In the days after the initial Israeli attack on June 13, the Iranian authorities showed numerous images of abandoned vehicles and equipment left behind after their use in Israel's attack. They also showed images of spent munitions, including the casings of Israeli-made short-range Spike missiles, along with cars used to transport these missiles and suicide drones deep into Iran, as well as Israeli makeshift drone factories within the country – all of which reveals that Israeli intelligence had successfully recruited and infiltrated Iran on a large scale. The Iranian intelligence services have not, however, shown any conclusive evidence to date of weapons they seized intact, before their deployment by supposed agents inside Iran. The regime in Tehran claims to have arrested 700 Israeli operatives in 12 days, many of whom could potentially face execution. The arrested suspects are accused of planning to use attack drones, building bombs, spying on military sites, and transmitting information to Israel, according to Iranian media. State media also reported that at least six men accused of spying for Israel in the past had been executed since the Israeli attack on June 13. On June 25, Iran executed three Kurdish men—Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad—who had been sentenced to death in 2023 on charges of smuggling assassination tools into the country for Israel. Iran's judiciary reported that three other men – Madjid Mossayebi, Esmaeil Fekri, and Mohammad Amin Shayesteh – had also been executed since June 13. State-affiliated media in Iran have published reports interviewing purported Israeli agents and showcasing 'seized' weapons. However, in two instances where state media have presented images of these confiscated weapons, the photographs appear to be either fake or staged. The first case occurred on June 24, 2025, when the Iranian ministry of intelligence claimed to have seized 402 drones in two cities in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. State media reporting on the seizure broadcast a photograph showing five attack drones with blue batteries. However, the photo is unrelated to Iran. It was taken in Ukraine in May by an Associated Press photographer, and shows attack drones made by the Ukrainian army for use against their Russian enemies. A TV report on the supposed Hormozgan seizure by state broadcaster IRIB used different images. The report showed stacks of commercially available consumer drones in their original packaging, including models that are too small to carry munitions. In a second report, on June 24, state media broadcast images of six men in prison uniforms with their backs to the camera being questioned by a security officer. The men say they had been contacted by Mossad via social media and began cooperating with them. The report also showed a row of various weapons displayed on a table, supposedly seized from the alleged Israeli agents. But nearly all the displayed weapons are manufactured in Iran. The video showed an Iranian-made man-portable air-defence system, the 'Misagh-3'. It also showed an Iranian-made drone, the 'Shahin-1,' recently added to the Iranian military's arsenal. The video also showed two mortar shells, one of which is made in China, and the other in the former Yugoslavia — both of which are commonly found in Iran's military stock. The presence of Iranian-made weapons, coupled with the absence of any Israeli or Western-made arms, raises further suspicion that the arrest and seizure may have been staged. Afghan immigrants new enemies of the state Since the onset of the 12-day war, rumours and reports circulating on social media have suggested that Afghan nationals are cooperating with Israel as foot soldiers. These reports allege that some Afghan immigrants in Iran are engaged in spying, planting bombs, and piloting drones on behalf of the Israeli Mossad. State television has also aired reports of arrested Afghan citizens "confessing" to being Israeli assets, transferring sensitive information, and planning to plant bombs at the direction of their Israeli handlers. According to Iranian media, at least five Afghan nationals have been arrested since the start of the 12-day war. Estimates suggest that between 5 to 8 million Afghan immigrants live in Iran, the majority of whom are considered "illegal" immigrants. In this context, on June 27, Iranian media announced that police had been ordered to deport all illegal Afghan immigrants. The media also reported that renting property to these immigrants would result in the confiscation of the property. While anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran has long been prevalent — especially since the most recent wave of immigration beginning in 2021 — this sentiment has surged dramatically since the 12-day war. Historically, Afghan immigrants in Iran have been targets of attacks over crimes such as theft, rape, and drug-related offenses. However, this marks the first time they have faced accusations of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
