Tag Archives: Netherlands

Now we have proof that Western leaders are trying to hide Israel’s war crimes

Rishi Sunak and Benjamin Netanyahu: Sunak has refused to admit that the shooting (to death) of a Palestinian non-combatant under a white flag by an IDF sniper was a war crime. Can you think of a reason for him to say that?

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands has been caught admitting that Israel has committed war crimes against the people of Gaza – and trying to hide the fact.

It seems Dutch government officials were responsible for leaking his comments. Will others follow their example? It seems they have a duty to do so, according to journalist Jonathan Cook:

In fairness, Mark Rutte is not the only one trying to save Israel’s face. Watch this bare-faced genocide apologist trying to talk down a war crime that we all saw committed on camera, as witnessed by an ITV news crew:

I note that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak had already defended Israel, according to Robert Peston. Where are the UK government officials who will blow the whistle on him?

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Finland has already turned against Israel:

And the Israel Defence Force? After broadcasting widely that its troops have been told not to shoot at civilian non-combatants, here’s the IDF… shooting at civilian non combatants:

Also a war crime – and one of the first of which Israel was accused in relation to the Gaza conflict – is the withholding of food, water and energy by an occupier from territory it has occupied.

Apparently Israel is saying the United Nations and Hamas are hindering the distribution of food aid in Gaza. But is that true? No:

Also a war crime is the targeting of non-military facilities like hospitals and the torture or murder of their patients and/or staff. Now watch this:

This is not just about the amount of evidence our politicians need to admit Israel is committing war crimes.

And with the International Court of Justice set to release its decision on whether “interim measures” to stop Israel committing such crimes (or indeed genocide) at midday on January 26, the big question for most of us must be simple:

How much evidence do we need that our politicians are ignoring Israel’s genocide and denying the will of the people?


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If Downing St is worried about ‘from the river’ chant, why not get a court verdict on it, like the Netherlands?

Rishi Sunak: he’s worried again.

There is power in two-line rhyming chants – to sway public opinion, for example – so on the face of it, it isn’t unreasonable for Rishi Sunak to be concerned.

He’s probably worried that it’s encouraging people to support Palestine rather than his Israeli buddies. Hmm… there might be something in that!

So this should be no surprise:

Downing Street has expressed concerns over the chant “from the river to the sea,” describing it as “deeply offensive” to many, amid growing controversy surrounding the rhetoric used in recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said it is a matter for the police to decide on the appropriate response when confronted with the use of such chants during public demonstrations.

Leaving it to the police is okay as far as it goes – but suppose they arrest someone, it goes to court, and the judge throws out the charge?

Then, Sunak will have wasted the time of everybody involved – and people like This Writer will be accusing him (rightly) of irresponsibility.

So why not go Dutch?

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By that, I mean he should simply refer the question to the courts in advance, as has happened in the Netherlands:

I reported on it before, here.

Oh, but wait!

The ruling was that the pro-Palestinian slogans … “are subject to various interpretations” and “relate to the state of Israel and possibly to people with Israeli citizenship, but do not relate to Jews because of their race or religion”.

Novara Media article I quoted also stated: “As to the claim that the slogan expresses a desire for Israel’s ‘destruction’, the historian of Palestine Maha Nassar has suggested that this eliminationist interpretation may derive from a post-six-day-war Israeli propaganda campaign that asserted that Palestinians wished to ‘throw Jews into the sea’.”

So the claim that the chant is anti-Semitic may be nothing more than Israeli propaganda?

I’d call that interesting.

Sunak, with his vested interest in supporting Israel, might have another word for it. That may be why he hasn’t taken the matter to the courts.

Source: Chant ‘from the river to the sea’ deeply offensive to many, says Downing Street


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Russia-Ukraine: third round of talks begins – but will Johnson try to sabotage them?

Is Boris Johnson Vladimir Putin’s useful idiot? If Johnson announces new sanctions against Russia while that country is holding peace talks with Ukraine, it could provide an excuse for Putin to continue the war.

Russian and Ukrainian diplomats are meeting for a third round of peace talks, amid a wave of propaganda from both sides.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reckons “there will be judgement” on Russia for its invasion of his country, while Vladimir Putin says Russia would quit Ukraine immediately if Ukraine agrees to demilitarise, and to allow the disputed regions in eastern Ukraine their autonomy.

None of the claims are realistic, and This Writer doubts they will be mentioned when the talks restart at 2pm today (4pm in eastern Europe). The negotiators will be looking for a mutually-acceptable conclusion – not trying to score public relations points.

I don’t think Russia will be prepared to give any ground on the disputed eastern regions that are inhabited by people of Russian ethnicity, who identify with Russia and who have (allegedly?) been persecuted for many years.

Nor will Russia relent on its determination that the Crimea should be acknowledged as a Russian territory. This is not unreasonable as it was only given to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev in an act of remorse for what he saw as that country’s poor treatment within the USSR.

But the demand for Ukraine to demilitarise is unreasonable. If that country rid itself of all military forces, there would be nothing to stop Russia from rolling straight back in and taking over completely.

And there’s no reason for Ukraine to do as Russia demands; when an invader finds out he can’t win, you don’t offer to make it easier for him.

Realistically, both sides know this. They’ll be seeking a solution that allows them both to walk away with dignity.

Unfortunately, Boris Johnson has decided to hold talks on further sanctions against Russia, at the same time as the peace negotiations are taking place. He started his meeting with the Canadian and Dutch prime ministers at midday and is planning a press conference at 2.50pm – while the Russia-Ukraine talks are taking place.

Will he make an announcement that could upset the peace process? Probably. Johnson is a fool who acts only in what he sees as his own interest.

But what is Johnson’s interest?

Judging by his behaviour so far, his interests lie in prolonging Russia’s war, protecting that country’s interests in the UK, and preventing Ukrainian refugees from gaining asylum here.

An announcement of further sanctions – to be imposed at an undefined point in the future, as far as the UK is concerned – may be just the inflammatory stimulus Russia needs to call off peace talks again.

Bear in mind: it is the timing of the press conference that is contentious. By making an announcement on sanctions while the peace talks are taking place, Johnson is denying Putin and Zelenskyy a chance to come to an agreement.

If they were to make progress, an announcement on sanctions may be unnecessary in any case.

It seems that, by trying to appear proactive, Boris Johnson is simply trying to get in the way.

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Dutch Rutte government resigns over child welfare fraud scandal – Vox Political Scrapbook

I brought this to your attention yesterday, remarking on the similarity between this and the wrong done to UK child benefit claimants by the Conservatives, with their so-called ‘rape clause’.

Now this has happened:

Mark Rutte’s government has stepped down after thousands of families were wrongly accused of child welfare fraud and told to pay money back.

Families suffered an “unparalleled wrong”, Dutch MPs decided, with tax officials, politicians, judges and civil servants leaving them powerless.

An “unparalleled wrong”.

The Dutch can recognise when their government mistreats their benefit claimants abominably.

Why can’t we show the same perception, here in the UK?

Source: Dutch Rutte government resigns over child welfare fraud scandal – BBC News

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Trade with EU nations is picking up! The Netherlands is sending us SEWAGE, including human waste

It seems this is all the UK is good for, now.

After the revelation that failed Australian politician Tony Abbott has been appointed to an advisory position on the Board of Trade, it turns out that the Netherlands is also sending us human waste:

Sewage sludge containing human waste from the Netherlands has been passed for import to the UK, to be used on farmland as fertiliser, despite concerns over the safety of its use.

Spreading the sludge on farmland is banned in the Netherlands, where incineration is preferred, but allowed in the UK. Dutch water authorities are eyeing the UK as a possible destination for their sewage, after problems at an Amsterdam incineration company left them lacking disposal options.

A permit for the shipment of 27,500 tonnes of municipal sewage sludge was issued in February by the UK’s Environment Agency, according to a document obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Greenpeace’s Unearthed investigative unit and seen by the Guardian.

Well, you can’t say you weren’t warned.

Some of us have spent years warning that the only future for the UK under a Conservative government is down the toilet.

Source: Nearly 30,000 tonnes of sewage sludge containing human waste to enter UK | Environment | The Guardian

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New blue Brexit passports are made in Poland by a French-Dutch firm. Satire is dead

The old-style British passport. The new version is to be made entirely in the European Union by an EU-based company.

What else is there to say?

The iconic blue passport has become a symbol of the UK’s departure from the European Union for many people.

I wonder if these Brexiteers will be proud to brandish their new UK passports, in the knowledge that they have been manufactured entirely in the EU?

That’s Tory privatisation for you! They sold off our national resources, so foreign firms bought them – and will keep them, no matter whether we’re in the EU or not.

Source: Blue Brexit passports, made in Poland, unveiled by UK government – CNN

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Dutch cartoonists can see what’s happening to the UK – even if our citizens can’t

This cartoon in Dutch newspaper Volksrant doesn’t pull its punches.

It shows Boris Johnson, his back to us, raping – that’s right, raping – the UK, while others including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Dominic Cummings and Nigel Farage wait their turn to do the same. The other one may be Michael Gove, according to a commenter to This Site.

Meanwhile a representative of the BBC – who looks uncannily like the granny from the old Times ‘Giles’ cartoons, tells members of the public: “Move along now. Nothing to see here.”

The situation it depicts is even worse than that displayed on this billboard:

This cartoon is saying that the Tories (and Farage) are violating the people of the UK.

And the BBC is helping them do it, by directing the people to look in the other direction.

I’m surprised the granny wasn’t pointing at a cartoon Corbyn and saying, “Look! Anti-Semite!”

But here’s the real question:

If the Dutch can see what’s going on, why can’t millions of the British – even if the BBC is sowing confusion?

The Dutch media are not pulling their punches.

This was published in the Volksrant, a daily newspaper.

As you can see it depicts the UK being gang raped by Johnson, Farage, Cummings, Rees-Mogg and somebody else.

The BBC is saying, “Move along now. Nothing to see here”.

Seems to me the Dutch have a grip of what’s happening here and the BBC’s role in it.

Source: (8) Supporting Jeremy Corbyn & John McDonnell

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US faces payback as other countries hold Trump officials to account

US president Donald Trump: Perhaps he should be a little more tight-lipped – it would set an example to his supporters [Image: Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty].

As ye sow, Donald, so shall ye reap.

(That is to say, if Donald Trump and his people are determined to keep talking nonsense, the rest of the world has decided to put them on the spot for it.)

We all know that the government of Botswana has demanded an explanation after the US President referred to some African countries as (sorry, again) “shitholes”. Was he referring to that country?

Now, footage has emerged showing Dutch reporters putting the US ambassador to the Netherlands on the spot for comments he made about their country a few years ago.

In 2015, Peter Hoekstra claimed that the “Islamic movement” had brought chaos to the Netherlands: “There are cars being burned. There are politicians that are being burned,” he said then, at a conference hosted by a conservative group. “And yes, there are no-go zones in the Netherlands.”

Last Wednesday (January 10), as US ambassador, Mr Hoekstra held his first news conference. Here’s how it went:

If Trump and his cronies are going to keep whining about other people producing “fake news”, they need to have an answer when they are exposed for spouting it themselves.

The incident has prompted some commentators in the UK to ask the obvious – why some so-called journalists are content to be spoon-fed any old much the Tories sling their way, reproducing it without question in their papers or broadcasts, when they should be holding our politicians to account:

Quite right too.


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The ultimate insult: Tory privatisation means European state-owned rail firms profit – not you

[Image: TSSA Union.]

We’ve established that the citizens of the UK – whether we use trains or not – are subsidising rail companies by nearly £4 billion a year.

We’ve also established that £3.5 billion of that money is used as profit by the railway operating companies.

Now you have proof that most of the £3.5 billion goes to German, Dutch and French nationalised railway services. It makes their services better while we are given trash.

This is the ultimate result of Conservative privatisations. They LOVE it!

Tories don’t care where your money goes, as long as you don’t have it, or anything like decent services or a decent standard of living.

That’s why they intend to continue privatising your assets and services, until foreign nationalised industries control everything (apart from, maybe, the courts and defence, if you believe David Cameron).

If you think about it, the Tories are making sure that Germany won the Second World War after all – 70 years after the event.*

Even if you can’t accept that, ask yourself whose side the Tories are really on.

It will never be yours.

Here’s the TSSA video that hammers the point home:

British taxpayers are paying for nationalised rail services in Europe, and the French, Dutch and German people would like to say thank you.

And it’s nothing to do with us still being in the EU.

As ticket prices skyrocket again today, a new video points out the absurdity at the heart of Britain’s privatised railways.

Huge chunks of Britain’s rail operating companies are now owned by the French, Dutch and German governments.

A chunk of the profits made from hiking fares in the UK are paid in dividends to state-owned companies such as Keolis, Arriva and Abellio.

Source: British taxpayers are subsidising European train fares and it’s nothing to do with the EU

*This is not to suggest that the Nazis could ever be said to have won World War II. If you want to find anything corresponding with Nazism in Germany or the UK, your best bet is – again – the Tory government.

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This wage-induced slavery is not science fiction

Would you want to live in this kind of Britain - where the rich and privileged live it up in huge high-status dirigibles while you and I toil in dirty, pollution-spewing factories? If not, you need to do something about it - now.

Would you want to live in this kind of Britain – where the rich and privileged live it up in huge high-status dirigibles while you and I toil in dirty, pollution-spewing factories? If not, you need to do something about it – now.

A few years ago, an entertaining TV drama presented an image of a Britain very similar to ours – but with a few significant differences.

The rich no longer lived in the cities, but swanned around overhead, flaunting their wealth in giant dirigibles. Working people seemed perfectly happy to put up with a military presence on every street and a curfew in the evening, because their mobile phone technology had developed into ear-‘pods’ that downloaded the latest (and undoubtedly pre-approved) ‘news’ directly into their heads.

It was both amusing and chilling when the day’s ‘joke’ came down the wire and everybody laughed at once. Good little robots.

Of course, the Doctor saved the day – but not before thousands of these characters were turned into Cybermen (let’s face it, they were halfway there already) and many more had been killed.

Good thing it’s just fantasy, isn’t it?

Except…

Isn’t this exactly what ‘bookmanwales’ was telling us in his comment on the recent Vox Political article about David Cameron’s intentions?

“Whilst you can make the information available for people to see what is happening they are not interested,” he wrote.

“’Can I afford the latest iPhone?’ ‘Can I get totally p**sed at the weekend?’… and ‘How cool does my new car look?’ are at the forefront of most people’s minds.

“The pursuit of personal pleasure has overtaken simple reason. It matters not that you have to work 8 or 16 hours a day as long as you possess these luxuries.

“It doesn’t matter if you see no family or friends, doesn’t matter if you sleep all day when you are off. You have the things that matter because TV tells you having those things matter.”

It’s only a small step from that to “It doesn’t matter if your employers take more and more for themselves and give you less and less, literally looking down on you from a great height; doesn’t matter that it costs more and more to buy the status symbols you want and they give you less and less purchasing power; you are doing what matters in the best possible way because that is what they tell you”.

So we come to the announcement over the weekend that wages, here in the UK, have declined faster and further than almost anywhere else in Europe – and the fact that nobody batted an eyelid.

Adjusted for inflation, our hourly wages have fallen by a massive 5.5 per cent since mid-2010 – that’s the fourth-worst decline among all of the 27 EU nations, recorded in the country with the sixth-largest economy in the world (some say seventh).

Only Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands had a steeper decline – and their economies stand at 36-40th, 49th and 17th in world rankings.

Meanwhile, according to Michael Meacher MP, chief executives of the FTSE-100 – the top British companies – have increased their own pay to 133 times the diminishing national average.

They’re laughing at you. They think you’re beaten; that you’ve been brainwashed into conditioned helplessness and into believing that your status-symbol phone or car or television actually means something. Meanwhile, they have been taking everything.

And, as long as you carry on playing their game, their way, they’re right.

The rot starts with the government and it is with the government that you must start to change it. Nobody else will do this for you; you must stand up for yourself or your bosses and corrupt officials will walk right over you. Government sets the conditions in which populations either flourish or are repressed. We describe repressive governments as tyrannies, despotisms, dictatorships.

How would you describe the government of the UK?

Take a good, hard look at your own MP. Have they represented your interests? Are you better-off, now, than you were when they were elected in 2010? Don’t try to excuse them by saying times have been hard – that’s clearly nonsense, otherwise those FTSE-100 executives wouldn’t be enjoying such monumental pay hikes. If they are members of the Coalition parties, have they done anything to safeguard your interests against the crippling damage done by government policies? Anything at all? If there are members of the Opposition, have they vowed to redress the balance by restoring the rights and powers that have been stripped away from you – not just in the last three years but the previous 30 as well?

No?

Then get rid of them and put someone in their place who will. It’s not rocket science!

Join the political party of your choice, link up with like-minded people and make a difference. Stop believing you are free, just because a politician tells you so. Freedom can never be taken for granted. People have had to fight for it down the generations and these times are no different.

Or would you rather go back to sleep and play Angry Birds (or whatever is the new fashion) until they come to euthanase you?

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: Our hard work has put some people up among the stars; isn’t it time to ask why we are still in the gutter?

(The first Vox Political book, Strong Words and Hard Times, is available now in paperback or as an eBook, including a large ‘footnotes’ section in which you can actually connect to internet links containing supporting evidence – if you’re reading on a device that supports this kind of activity.)