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In Whitney Biennial Artwork, a Message Reveals Itself: ‘Free Palestine’ – The New York Times

Posted By on March 21, 2024

Throughout its history, the Whitney Biennial has often reflected the heated discourse of the art world, welcoming provocative work that might ruffle feathers. But museum officials and curators said they were taken by surprise by a message that revealed itself in the flickering lights of a neon installation.

On Wednesday evening the Whitney Museum of American Art confirmed that an artwork by the Indigenous artist and activist Demian DinYazhi had blinking lights that slowly spelled out the phrase Free Palestine.

The artwork originated with poetry written before the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war and bears the title, we must stop imaging apocalypse/genocide + we must imagine liberation. It was inspired by Indigenous resistance movements and the Din activist Klee Benally, who died in December and was a friend of the artist.

It is about Indigenous resistance and opposition to forms of settler colonialism, DinYazhi' said in an interview, referring to a concept rooted in academia and studies of societies where one population displaces and dominates another.

Officials at the museum, including the exhibitions curators, said that they had not been aware of the message, which most viewers missed at first. The artwork arrived shortly before the exhibitions installation; curators noticed the flickering lights but thought they were supposed to draw a viewers attention to words like genocide and liberation.

Officials at the museum, when asked earlier this week about the title of the work and whether it referred to Gaza, initially said that the piece had been conceived before the current conflict and was a reflection on Indigenous resistance movements. They later said that they had not known about the message, which was added when the work was fabricated in the fall, but that the message would not have affected their decision to display the art.

Annie Armstrong, a writer for the publication Artnet News, noted the Free Palestine message in an article about the exhibition yesterday.

The museum did not know of this subtle detail when the work was installed, said Angela Montefinise, chief communications and content officer, who added that there were no plans to remove or change the artwork. The Biennial has long been a place where contemporary artists address timely matters, and the Whitney is committed to being a space for artists conversations.

Museums around the country have struggled to respond to the Israel-Hamas war as artists, employees, trustees and the public scrutinize their statements on the conflict. And within the culture industry, there has been a wave of resignations, boycotts and firings that have come with addressing the war.

DinYazhi said the flickering message aligned with the deeper meaning of their artwork. The piece in its final form and as it currently exists today is a response to being situated within settler colonial institutions, the artist said.

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In Whitney Biennial Artwork, a Message Reveals Itself: 'Free Palestine' - The New York Times

Why is Ireland one of the most pro-Palestinian countries? – The Week

Posted By on March 21, 2024

As the war between Israel and Hamas nears the six-month mark, the global community remains divided between support for Israel and support for the Palestinian people. Muslim-majority Middle Eastern countries continue to back the Palestinians and most Western governments are standing by Israel, but there is an outlying European Union nation that has consistently shown strong support for the Palestinians: Ireland.

Nearly 80% of Irish people back the Palestinians and think that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to the most recent polling. This high level of support for the Palestinian people may come as a surprise to those looking in from the outside, given that Ireland is a majority-white, majority-Catholic country situated more than 2,000 miles away from the Middle East.

While many people in the EU and other Western countries are rallying behind the Palestinians and support for Israel is slowly declining Ireland's public backing of the Palestinians is among the highest outside of the Middle East. This support is not new, either in 1980, Ireland became the first EU country to back the creation of a Palestinian state. Why is Ireland so united in its support for the Palestinian people?

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The root of the support can largely be traced back to historical similarities between the region of Palestine and Ireland. Both are former colonies of the United Kingdom; Ireland gained independence in 1921, while the British ceded Palestine upon the creation of Israel in 1948. Northern Ireland, which remains part of the U.K., also experienced widespread violence from the 1960s to the 1990s during a paramilitary conflict known as The Troubles.

As a result, many people in Ireland say their "experience of British occupation as well as their own sectarian conflict, and 18th-century famine gives them empathy and shared history with the Palestinian struggle," Lauren Frayer and Fatima Al-Kassab said for NPR. And beyond the Palestinians, many in Ireland "identify more with the Global South's experience of imperialism and colonialism," Frayer and Al-Kassab said.

Sympathy for Palestinians is "rooted in Ireland's history," Niall Holohan, a former Irish diplomat to the Palestinian Authority, said to The Guardian. The Irish people "feel we have been victimized over the centuries. It's part of our psyche underneath it all we side with the underdog," Holohan said. He also noted that Ireland's small Jewish population of around 2,500 people or 0.05% of Ireland's total population makes the country's Palestinian support more visible. Ireland has become a "template for Palestine" that has "undoubtedly shaped how people from Ireland engage with postcolonial conflicts," Jane Ohlmeyer, a history professor at Trinity College, said to The Guardian.

The "apparatus of occupation armed military patrols on city streets, military checkpoints, segregated cities and separation walls that shape daily life today in occupied Palestine" is very similar to the "one once utilized by the British in Northern Ireland," Aisling Walsh said for Al Jazeera. This is the main reason as to "why the people of Ireland widely identify with and eagerly support the Palestinians."

Beyond public opinion, lawmakers throughout Ireland have also been somewhat of an outlier among EU countries in their support for the Palestinians. Politicians "across Ireland's political spectrum were among the first in Europe to call for the protection of Palestinian civilians and denounce the scale of Israel's response," The New York Times said.

Those at the top of the government have expressed sentiments standing with both Israel and Gaza. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he "strongly believed that Israel had the right to defend itself, but that what was unfolding in Gaza 'resembles something approaching revenge,'" the Times said. He has since called for a cease-fire from Israel and the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Irish President Michael D. Higgins has also condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel while criticizing Israel's response.

Varadkar is set to meet with President Joe Biden on Friday for their annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. That meeting will be used to tell Biden "how Irish people feel, and that is that we want to see a cease-fire immediately, for the killing to stop, the hostages to be released without condition, [and] food and medicine to get into Gaza," Varadkar told reporters.

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The rest is here:

Why is Ireland one of the most pro-Palestinian countries? - The Week

Israel Ranked 4th While Palestine Ranked ‘at the Bottom’ in 2024 World Happiness Index? – Snopes.com

Posted By on March 21, 2024

Claim:

A user on X accurately stated Israel ranked fourth while Palestine ranked "at the bottom' in the 2024 World Happiness Index published on March 20.

The 2024 World Happiness Report published on March 20, 2024, said Israel actually dropped from fourth in 2023 to fifth in 2024. Palestine ranked 103rd out of 143 countries.

Israel did not rank fourth (again) in 2024. It dropped one place on the index to fifth. Further, Palestine did not rank "at the bottom of the list."

On March 20, 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @DrEliDavid claimed the 2024 World Happiness Index was published "today" and Israel was ranked fourth, while Palestine was ranked at the bottom of the list(archived here).

In his post, David included a bar chart displaying the top 10 happiest countries in the world, which showed Israel in fourth place between Iceland in third and the Netherlands in fifth.

The same claim also appeared elsewhere on X.

It is true the 2024 World Happiness Report was published on March 20, and that Israel ranked highly on that list. However, Israel ranked fifth on this year's index, whereas in 2023 it ranked fourth. And Palestine did not rank at the bottom, as David stated. Therefore, we have rated this claim as a "Mixture" of truth.

Page 15 (to get there in PDF type "17") of the 2024 World Happiness Reportshows Israel came in at number five, while page 17 (see previous note but type "19") shows Palestine ranked 103rd out of 143 countries, so not "at the bottom."

Similarly, page 34 (type "36" in PDF) of the 2023 World Happiness Report shows Israel ranked fourth, while page 36 (type "38") shows Palestine came in at number 99.

The 2023 report shows the bar chart that David was referring to.

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Israel Ranked 4th While Palestine Ranked 'at the Bottom' in 2024 World Happiness Index? - Snopes.com

Fact Check: The Truth Behind Claims Israel Ranked 4th While Palestine Ranked ‘at the Bottom’ in 2024 World … – Yahoo News Canada

Posted By on March 21, 2024

X account @DrEliDavid

Claim:

A user on X accurately stated Israel ranked fourth while Palestine ranked "at the bottom' in the 2024 World Happiness Index published on March 20.

Rating:

What's True:

The 2024 World Happiness Report published on March 20, 2024, said Israel actually dropped from fourth in 2023 to fifth in 2024. Palestine ranked 103rd out of 143 countries.

What's False:

Israel did not rank fourth (again) in 2024. It dropped one place on the index to fifth. Further, Palestine did not rank "at the bottom of the list."

On March 20, 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @DrEliDavid claimed the 2024 World Happiness Index was published "today" and Israel was ranked fourth, while Palestine was ranked at the bottom of the list(archived here).

In his post, David included a bar chart displaying the top 10 happiest countries in the world, which showed Israel in fourth place between Iceland in third and the Netherlands in fifth.

The same claim also appeared elsewhere on X.

It is true the 2024 World Happiness Report was published on March 20, and that Israel ranked highly on that list. However, Israel ranked fifth on this year's index, whereas in 2023 it ranked fourth. And Palestine did not rank at the bottom, as David stated. Therefore, we have rated this claim as a "Mixture" of truth.

Page 15 (to get there in PDF type "17") of the 2024 World Happiness Reportshows Israel came in at number five, while page 17 (see previous note but type "19") shows Palestine ranked 103rd out of 143 countries, so not "at the bottom."

Story continues

Similarly, page 34 (type "36" in PDF) of the 2023 World Happiness Report shows Israel ranked fourth, while page 36 (type "38") shows Palestine came in at number 99.

The 2023 report shows the bar chart that David was referring to.

Helliwell, John F., et al. World Happiness Report 2023. 20 Mar. 2023, https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2023/.

---. World Happiness Report 2024. 20 Mar. 2024, https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2024/.

Read the original here:

Fact Check: The Truth Behind Claims Israel Ranked 4th While Palestine Ranked 'at the Bottom' in 2024 World ... - Yahoo News Canada

A Jewish professor caught up in campus wars over Israel-Palestine: Now on a New York stage – Haaretz

Posted By on March 21, 2024

News Life and Culture Columnists and Opinion Haaretz Hebrew and TheMarker Partnerships

Haaretz.com, the online English edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, gives you breaking news, analyses and opinions about Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World. Haaretz Daily Newspaper Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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A Jewish professor caught up in campus wars over Israel-Palestine: Now on a New York stage - Haaretz

Pro-Palestine students and community rally in front of UWM Chancellor’s mansion – Fight Back! Newspaper

Posted By on March 21, 2024

Milwaukee, WI On March 14, protesters rallied in front of Chancellor Mark Mones mansion demanding UW-Milwaukee cut ties with Israel. Despite the constant rain and cops tailing the caravan headed to the mansion, the protesters remained steadfast in their commitment to the campaign to cut ties with genocide.

The rally was hosted by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at UWM, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC), and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

UWM SDSs campaign, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, aims to cut financial ties with Israel, end study abroad trips to Israel, change the name of the Golda Meir Library, and recently, drop the charges on the Milwaukee 5. There have been consistent militant actions in the spite of the repression.

Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and a UWM alumnus, brought attention to the connection between the ongoing SDS and MAC campaigns, stating, I am so proud to stand here in solidarity with the student movement today, following the footsteps in the many decades-long solidarity between the student and anti-war movements.

Astronautics, with its headquarters in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and a subsidiary in Israel, frequents UWM career fairs, but they did not present themselves at the most recent club fair, knowing they are not welcome. Onitsuka finished with a resounding chant, From Milwaukee to Falastin, end the U.S. war machine!

Patricia Fish, co-chair of UWM SDS and part of the Milwaukee 5, called out Chancellor Mone, stating, Over 30,000 Palestinians are dead. Our school is complicit! How can you not have a sense of urgency to stop a fucking genocide! UWM and Chancellor Mone are standing on the wrong side of history, and we wont forget. If you are complicit, if you are neutral, you are guilty!

To end, Kayla Patterson, of UWM SDS said, I can look back on the events February 9 and laugh. One of the pigs that day covered his ears because we were chanting so loud, prompting prohibited noise charges. We had them scrambling, and it makes it clear that the police dont anticipate us to fight back and use our first amendment rights on campus.

Patterson finished by saying, We give them power when we accept their fear tactics, so we need to keep up the same energy and make them fear us instead!

The students and community made it clear that rain or shine, on or off campus, they will stay active in the struggle to cut ties with genocide.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #StudentMovement #AntiWarMovement #International #Palestine #SDS #SDSUWM #MAC

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Pro-Palestine students and community rally in front of UWM Chancellor's mansion - Fight Back! Newspaper

Police probing if Kfar Saba synagogue destroyed overnight was broken into – The Times of Israel

Posted By on March 21, 2024

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

Continued here:

Police probing if Kfar Saba synagogue destroyed overnight was broken into - The Times of Israel

Firefighters rescue 11 Torah scrolls from burning synagogue in central Israel – Ynetnews

Posted By on March 21, 2024

Firefighters rescued 11 Torah scrolls early on Monday morning from a synagogue that went up in flames in the central Israel city of Kfar Saba. No one was hurt, but the building suffered serious damage. An investigation was opened into the cause of the fire.

2 View gallery

Firefighters rescue 11 Torah scrolls from Ohev Tzedek synagogue in Kfar Saba

(Photo: Israel Fire and Rescue Service)

Around 3:30 a.m., a report was received at Israel Fire and Rescue Command about a burning two-story building on Weizman Street in Kfar Saba. Three firefighting teams were dispatched to the scene. When the teams arrived, the firefighters were able to identify a fully developed fire in Ohev Tzedek synagogue.

Thanks to the quick actions and efforts of the firefighters, they managed to reach the holy ark and save the synagogue's 11 Torah scrolls, which were not damaged by the flames. The synagogue building was nearly completely gutted by the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

2 View gallery

Ohev Tzedek synagogue ablaze

(Photo: Israel Fire and Rescue Service)

Police suspect that the synagogue was broken into after noticing that bars protecting the building's windows had been cut. Meanwhile, arson investigators and Israel Police forensics investigators collected various forensic findings at the scene to examine the circumstances and advance the investigation.

Originally posted here:

Firefighters rescue 11 Torah scrolls from burning synagogue in central Israel - Ynetnews

Suspected arson at a synagogue in Kfar Saba – The Jerusalem Post

Posted By on March 21, 2024

The police launched an investigation on Monday into suspicions of an apparent break-in at a synagogue in Kfar Saba and circumstances of a fire at the site.

Meanwhile, fire investigators and officers gathered various forensic findings at the scene to examine the circumstances and advance the investigation.

See original here:

Suspected arson at a synagogue in Kfar Saba - The Jerusalem Post

Germany summons Iranian envoy over 2022 synagogue attack plot – The Times of Israel

Posted By on March 21, 2024

BERLIN Germany says it has summoned the Iranian ambassador over an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in 2022 that Berlin believes was planned with the help of Tehran.

A German-Iranian national was in December sentenced to two years and nine months in prison over the plot to attack a synagogue in the western German city of Bochum.

The 36-year-old, identified only as Babak J., had planned to target the synagogue but ended up throwing an incendiary device at an adjacent school building. No one was injured.

In handing down the verdict, the Duesseldorf court said the attack had been planned with the help of Iranian state agencies.

The foreign ministry says in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it has summoned the Iranian envoy after receiving a written justification of the judgement.

We will now immediately share the judgement with our European partners and the EU institutions and examine further steps, the ministry says.

Germany had already in December summoned Irans charge daffaires over the plot.

Germany has grown increasingly alarmed in recent years about rising anti-Jewish sentiment eight decades after the end of the Holocaust.

You're a dedicated reader

Were really pleased that youve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.

Thats why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.

So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we havent put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.

For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.

Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel

Read more from the original source:

Germany summons Iranian envoy over 2022 synagogue attack plot - The Times of Israel


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