Ethnic cleansing

Kosovo: consolidating its statehood remains an uphill struggle 16 years after independence

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Interpol, Genocide, Ethnic cleansing, UNESCO, Rape, Hope, Government, Frustration, Atrocity, European Parliament, Kosovo Serbs, Attitude, Drug

The country is now recognised internationally by more than 100 states and has become a member of some international organisations.

Key Points:

The country is now recognised internationally by more than 100 states and has become a member of some international organisations.
Kosovo has also established itself as one of the most functional and vibrant democracies in the Balkans.
But neighbouring Serbia doesn’t recognise Kosovo’s independence and ethnic Serbs living in the country’s north have largely rejected Kosovo’s state authority.

Accommodating Serbia

The breakdown in cooperation has been exploited by Serbia to undermine Kosovo’s standing as a sovereign state.
Concerned about Serbia’s potential to destabilise the Balkans, Brussels and Washington have adopted a lenient posture towards Vučić, aiming to pull Serbia away from Russia’s influence.
Russia’s war in Ukraine and its potential security implications for the Balkans (where Serbia is considered Moscow’s proxy) has, contrary to any reasonable expectation, amplified this approach.
However, there still hasn’t been any official public assessment of the attack, nor have any sanctions been imposed on Serbia.

Other priorities

Vučić is perceived as someone with enough popular legitimacy to sell Serbs a final settlement with Kosovo.
Kosovo’s concerns about the current approach to the dialogue between the two countries are legitimate having seen Serbia’s actions in the past.
In fact, Israel is the only country to establish diplomatic ties with Kosovo in the last six years.

An uphill struggle

The current US and EU administrations are likely to push Kosovo to bend to their demands and give Vučić something that he would be happy to live with.
Whichever way Kosovo chooses, the consolidation of its statehood will remain an uphill struggle.

Altin Gjeta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

As the war in Gaza continues, Germany’s unstinting defence of Israel has unleashed a culture war that has just reached Australia

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

His work led him to being offered a stint at Germany’s prestigious Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology.

Key Points:

His work led him to being offered a stint at Germany’s prestigious Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology.
This came less than two months after the Max Planck Foundation, with war in Gaza raging, had announced “additional funding for German-Israeli collaborations”.
What to me is a fair, intellectual critique of Israel, for them is “antisemitism according to the law in Germany”.

A political ideal

As he succinctly writes:
I have a political ideal that I have always struggled for regarding Israel/Palestine.
It is the ideal of a multi-religious society made from
Christians, Muslims and Jews living together on that land.
I have a political ideal that I have always struggled for regarding Israel/Palestine.
It is the ideal of a multi-religious society made from
Christians, Muslims and Jews living together on that land.
His criticism of current Israeli policy, he insists, stems from the Netanyahu government’s determination to “work against such a goal”.

Self-imposed red lines

It is worth pointing out that it is not just happening in Germany.
Universities in the United States are under siege from students and community groups variously accusing them of both antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Largely, however, what’s happening in Germany is a result of some self-imposed red lines the German press, the German courts and the German parliament have imposed on public debate.
Rather, it is a result of Germany’s current belief that its genocidal, antisemitic Nazi past implies future unwavering support for Israel.
It might equally be said that Germany has a special responsibility to stridently oppose ethnic cleansing, war crimes and genocide wherever they occur.

Enough?

Sharp words from German government officials about the renewed Israeli campaign in Rafah suggest this might be possible.
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned recently “the people of Gaza cannot vanish into thin air”.

Matt Fitzpatrick receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Ukraine war: why propaganda doesn’t work as well in Belarus as it does in Russia

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 9, 2024

In contrast, Belarusian people are far more wary of being drawn into the conflict.

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In contrast, Belarusian people are far more wary of being drawn into the conflict.
Additionally, a surprisingly low number of Belarusians (26%) said they would feel negatively if Belarusian soldiers refused to fight or follow orders.
Meanwhile, the country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, has allowed Russian troops to pass through his territory to invade Ukraine, and supported Putin’s invasion.

Why Belarus is different

For the most part, the majority of urban Belarusians surveyed want Belarus to distance itself from the war and express neutrality.
In contrast to Russians, Belarusian society considers the war senseless and harmful to Belarus.

Russian propaganda wins

In stark comparison to Belarus, Russia has developed a successful propaganda machine that is entertaining, confusing and overwhelming.
Flooding citizens with information that demonises its opponents is a key component to Russia’s propaganda strategy.
Russian propaganda uses a large number of channels and constantly disseminates falsehoods at high volume and speed.
This onslaught of propaganda makes it even harder for its citizens to discern what is false and what is the truth.
Research has suggested that Putin’s propaganda has elicited strong support for a military invasion among Russians, and that the Russian public’s preferences for using military force were easily manipulated.

Natasha Lindstaedt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Israel is a Jewish nation, but its population is far from a monolith

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 9, 2024

Haredi Judaism, Muslims, Death, Policy, Social media, Arabs, Judaism, Hezbollah, Ethnic cleansing, Religion, Supreme court, Negev Bedouin, Woman, Hamas, The Holocaust, Pressure, Nursing

In Israel’s single largest casualty event since the Gaza invasion began in October 2023, 21 Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion on Jan. 22, 2024.

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In Israel’s single largest casualty event since the Gaza invasion began in October 2023, 21 Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion on Jan. 22, 2024.
1st Class Cedrick Garin, a 23-year-old Filipino-Israeli whose mother came to the country to work before he was born.
Hamas’ roughly 240 hostages, for example, were nationals of 25 different countries, including Thailand, Nepal, the Philippines and Tanzania.
Hamas kidnapped Muslim citizens of Israel alongside Jewish Israelis, Americans and other dual nationals.

Israel’s diversity

Much smaller groups of Israeli Jews were born in Africa and Asia, in countries including India and Uzbekistan.
Roughly 20% of Israelis are Arab, including Muslims, Christians and Druze, a group of people who observe a distinct monotheistic religion.
Another 5% of Israeli residents are neither Jewish nor Arab, including more than 25,000 African migrants who live in Israel.

Military service requirements

Israel has different rules for military service for its citizens, depending on their background.
Every Israeli citizen over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze or Circassian must serve in the military, unless they are religiously observant and/or married when conscripted.
Mandatory service brings together Israelis of all backgrounds, forces them to work together and instills a sense of obligation to the broader society.

Minorities in Israel

Abu Latif, who was called up as a reserve soldier, was killed in the Jan. 22, 2024, blast in Gaza.
The vast majority of the 370,000 Bedouins in Israel are citizens and identify as Muslim.
Unlike Jewish Israelis and Druze men who are required to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, Bedouins volunteer.
In 2020, a record number of 600 Bedouins joined the Israel military.
Another minority group in Israel, the Druze people, have a long history of Israeli military service.

Jewish minorities

Even the deaths of Jewish soldiers reflect the complexity of Israeli society.
In all, Jewish soldiers killed in the conflict have ties to at least 12 countries other than Israel.
Soldiers killed in Gaza include Staff Sgt.

Equal in war?

This exempts ultra-Orthodox Jews, who make up approximately 13% of the country, from military service.
Women as well as men studying at a yeshiva, a Jewish religious college, are excused from service so they can follow strict religious observances and study religious texts.
In August 2023, only 9% of eligible ultra-Orthodox men served in the military, compared with an 80% national average among other Jewish Israelis.

Jessica Trisko Darden is Director of the (In)Security Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University and Director of the Security & Foreign Policy Initiative at William & Mary's Global Research Institute.

Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenian heritage aim to erase an entire culture

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Though based on scant evidence and flimsy rhetoric, this document also states the right of Azerbaijanis to return to these lands.

Key Points:

Though based on scant evidence and flimsy rhetoric, this document also states the right of Azerbaijanis to return to these lands.
Further aggression by Azerbaijan against Armenia can therefore not be ruled out, despite steps towards a possible truce in recent months.

A city divided

There, Armenian historical heritage is respected and visited by people of all faiths, and is even promoted to tourists.
In the Northern Iranian city of Jolfa, Armenian culture is treated with pride.

However, this is only half the story, as today the city is divided into two halves by the Iran-Azerbaijan border, which runs through it.
Until the 19th century the two halves formed a single urban unit, but after Persia’s defeat in the war with Russia between 1826 and 1828, the northern side of the city passed into Russian hands.

Erasing Nagorno Karabakh

After Armenia’s defeat in Nagorno Karabakh in September 2023, and the subsequent exit of both international journalists and NGOs – meaning the progressive withdrawal of media attention and humanitarian aid – it is not difficult to imagine that here too, efforts are already underway to wipe any traces of Armenian heritage off the map.
In Nagorno Karabakh there are around 500 historical sites, home to approximately 6,000 Armenian monuments that are now under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces.
During the first Nagorno Karabakh war in the 1990s, Azerbaijani authorities decided to eliminate all Armenian presence in the country, be it human or cultural, in what was known as the Baku pogrom.

The destruction is reminiscent of the fate of the Armenian architectural heritage across Turkey during the 20th century, where very little was done to preserve, recover or restore it. The few exceptions were the Cathedral of the Holy Cross at Lake Van, and the historic city of Ani, capital of the kingdom of Bagratid Armenia. The latter of these was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.

The international community’s muted response

Until only recently, this had been met with silence from most of the international community, and even UNESCO’s response was lacklustre, as pointed out by the University of Cornell.
In doing so, it is calling for international mobilisation and condemnation of Baku’s actions, though with little impact to date.
Local Armenian resistance has stalled the project by occupying work sites, but not without violent repercussions.

Fernando Camacho Padilla no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.

Explainer: what is the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

However, the two-state solution is now further away than it has ever been, with some even proclaiming it “dead”.

Key Points:

However, the two-state solution is now further away than it has ever been, with some even proclaiming it “dead”.
But what actually is the two-state solution and why do so many see this as the only resolution to the conflict?

What is the two-state solution?

The first attempt at creating side-by-side states occurred before the independence of Israel in 1948.
More than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from the new state of Israel, fleeing to the West Bank, Gaza and surrounding Arab states.
This would mean the new Palestinian state would consist of the West Bank prior to Israeli settlement, and Gaza.
How Jerusalem would be split, if at all, has been a significant point of contention in this plan.

Why is statehood so important?

The kind of statehood referred to in the two-state solution, known as state sovereignty in international politics, is the authority given to the government of a nation within and over its borders.
The vast majority of people on Earth live in or legally fall under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state.
More than 160 members of the UN now recognise Israel; those who do not include Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
As such, the self-determination of Palestinians through the creation of a sovereign state has been a cornerstone of Palestinian political action for decades.

The closest the two sides got – the Oslo Accords

Negotiations began largely as a result of Palestinian uprisings across the West Bank and Gaza.
In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) Yasser Arafat met in Oslo and signed the first of two agreements called the Oslo Accords.
The Oslo II Accord was signed in 1995, detailing the subdivision of administrative areas in the occupied territories.
And over the next few decades, the two-state solution has only become harder to achieve for various reasons, including:

the rise of conservative governments in Israel and lack of effective political pressure from the US
the shrinking political influence of the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas and the rise of Hamas in Gaza, which caused a political split between the two Palestinian territories
Hamas’ vows to annihilate Israel and refusal to recognise the Israeli state as legitimate
the continued growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which has turned the territory into an ever-shrinking series of small enclaves connected by military checkpoints
dwindling support among both Israelis and Palestinians for the model
continued political violence on both sides.
And of course there is Netanyahu – no individual has done more to undermine the two-state solution than the current Israeli leader and his party. In 2010, a leaked recording from 2001 came to light where Netanyahu claimed to have “de facto put an end to the Oslo accords”.

What alternatives are there?

There aren’t many alternatives and all of them have significant problems.
Although Arabs already make up around 20% of Israel’s current population, the one-state solution would not be politically feasible.
According to Zionist ideology, Israel must always remain a majority Jewish state and granting Palestinians citizenship in the occupied territories would undermine this.

Andrew Thomas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Over 150 Global Humanitarian, Business and Political Leaders Demand Freedom of "Armenian Prisoners"

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the "Armenian Prisoners," which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh's government illegally detained following Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

Key Points:

The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan.
While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released.
The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.
Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees.

Over 150 Global Humanitarian, Business and Political Leaders Demand Freedom of "Armenian Prisoners"

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the "Armenian Prisoners," which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh's government illegally detained following Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

Key Points:

The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan.
While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released.
The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.
Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees.

Death of the Armenian dream in Nagorno-Karabakh was predictable but not inevitable

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

In recent days, more than 100,000 people have taken to the streets again.

Key Points:

In recent days, more than 100,000 people have taken to the streets again.
They have been decisively defeated by the Azerbaijanis in a short and brutal military operation in the enclave.
As a longtime analyst of the history and politics of the South Caucasus, I see the chain of recent events in Nagorno-Karabakh as depressingly predictable.

A legacy of Lenin

The 1988 demonstrations were met by violent pogroms by Azerbaijanis against Armenian minorities in Sumgait and Baku.
The legal principle of territorial integrity took precedence over the ethical principle of national self-determination.

An unsolved diplomatic problem

And for all their efforts, outside powers – Russia, France and the United States most importantly – failed to find a lasting diplomatic solution.
Moscow was Armenia’s principal protector in a hostile neighborhood with two unfriendly states, Azerbaijan and Turkey, on its borders.
Only Iran, treated as a pariah by much of the international community, provided some additional support, sporadically, to Armenia.

What might have been

Alternatives and contingencies always exist in history and, if heeded by statespeople, can result in different outcomes.
Yet the triumphant Armenian victors of the 1990s had few immediate incentives to compromise.
Each side considered the contested enclave a piece of their ancient homeland, an indivisible good, and compromise proved impossible.
Azerbaijan is a state three times the size of Armenia with a population larger by more than 7 million people.

Democracy versus autocracy

For example, he boldly, publicly declared that “Artsakh” was part of Armenia, which infuriated Azerbaijan.
This ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh – first through hunger, then by force of arms – completed the Azerbaijani victory.
The defeated government of Artsakh declared it would officially dissolve the republic by the end of 2023.

Learning from defeat and victory

They are forced to face hard facts.
At the same time, victory can lead to prideful triumphalism that in its own way can distort what lies ahead.
Voices have also been raised in Baku calling for a “Greater Azerbaijan” that would incorporate what they call “Western Azerbaijan” – that is, the current Republic of Armenia.

A chance for democratic renewal?

The immediate tasks facing Armenia are enormous, beginning with the housing and feeding of 100,000 refugees.
But this might also be a moment of opportunity.

Nagorno-Karabakh: the world should have seen this crisis coming -- and it's not over yet

Retrieved on:

Friday, September 29, 2023

The New York Times recently wrote about what’s now happening in Nagorno-Karabakh that “almost no one saw it coming”.

Key Points:

The New York Times recently wrote about what’s now happening in Nagorno-Karabakh that “almost no one saw it coming”.
Armenians, as well as those who have followed the conflict, have warned for a long time that this was coming.
The EU could only appeal for restraint and was relieved when the fighting stopped after two days.

Global inaction

During the summer, the situation worsened for the 120,000 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, with acute shortages of food, petrol and medicine.
But no measures of force whatsoever were put behind this demand and there were no sanctions, or even threats of sanctions.
You can bring down a humanitarian crisis on more than a 100,000 people, even to the brink of genocide, without suffering anything but verbal condemnations.

This is ethnic cleansing

The last straw was the 24-hour bombardment on September 19 that has finally driven the ethnic Armenian population from their homes.
I therefore believe it is correct to call this ethnic cleansing.
Five days before the Azerbaijani attack on the enclave a representative of the US government said that the USA would not tolerate the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Now it has happened and Washington seems to tolerate it, if the lack of sanctions on Azerbaijan are any indication.

It is not over

The first target will be the southern part of Armenia, the province of Syunik, which Azerbaijan calls Zangezur.
Should the regime in Baku get away with this with impunity, it will be inspired to continue its aggression against Armenians.
The lesson of the tragedy now unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh is that verbal condemnations and appeals do not stop the aggression of authoritarian states.