Hasta La Gadget!

Israel has commenced full-scale warfare on the people of Gaza. The recent tensions began about six weeks ago when Israeli forces abducted 17 Palestinian teenage boys in the occupied West Bank. Then, on June 12, three Israeli teenagers were abducted in the southern West Bank; Israel blamed Hamas. After the three youths were found dead, a group of Israelis tortured and killed a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem. Finally, on July 7, Israel launched a large military operation dubbed “Operation Protective Edge” in the Gaza Strip.

During the past week, Israel has killed at least 185 Palestinian civilians and counting, including 34 children. In addition to more than 1,200 Israeli airstrikes, Israel has threatened to launch a ground invasion of Gaza. Israel attacked a center for the mentally and physically disabled in Beit Zahiya, killing three patients and a nurse. In addition, Israel has stepped up demolitions of Palestinian homes, and administrative detentions of Palestinians without charge or trial.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) reported that 77 percent of the people Israel has killed in Gaza were civilians. Although Hamas has launched about 1,000 rockets into Israel in the past week, no Israelis have been killed.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed alarm at the Israeli military operations as well as the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel. “For its part, the Government of Israel must take all possible measures to ensure full respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack, during the conduct of hostilities, as required by international humanitarian law. In all circumstances, they must avoid targeting civilians,” she said. In light of “deeply disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes,” Pillay continued, “serious doubt [has been raised] about whether the Israeli strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”

The principle of distinction forbids deliberate attacks on civilians or civilian objects. The proportionality principle forbids disproportionate and excessive civilian casualties compared to the claimed military advantage gained in the attack. Precaution requires that measures be taken in advance to ensure compliance with the principles of distinction and proportionality, to minimize incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects, and requires taking all feasible precautions in the choice of means and methods of warfare.

Collective Punishment by Israel

Headlines in the mainstream media falsely portray an equivalence of firepower between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza. But Israel’s use of force greatly exceeds that of the Palestinians, and the asymmetric warfare continues to escalate. The Obama administration and Congress have condemned the rocket fire into Israel by Hamas and the “deliberate targeting of civilians.” But Washington says Israel has a right to defend itself, justifying Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza and blaming Hamas, while minimizing Israel’s role in creating and escalating the violence.

Israel’s overwhelming use of military force constitutes collective punishment, which is a war crime. The laws of war, also known as international humanitarian law, are primarily found in the Geneva Conventions. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a party, specifically forbids collective punishment. It says, “No protected person [civilian] may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed … Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.”

Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Operation Protective Edge constitutes a deliberate policy to punish the entire population of Gaza. Since the Palestinians concluded a unity agreement between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza in June, Israel has stepped up the construction of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Richard Falk, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, noted that Israel broke off the peace talks with the Palestinians before the formation of the Palestinian unity agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed Hamas for the kidnapping and killing of the three Israeli teens in order to discredit the new Palestinian unity agreement. In what amounts to a catch-22, Netanyahu has cynically stymied the peace negotiations because, he said, there was no unified voice to speak for the Palestinians. But now that the Palestinians have a unity agreement, Netanyahu is driving a wedge between Fatah and Hamas in an effort to justify and maintain Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

The 140 square-mile Gaza Strip, home to 1.7 million people (half of whom are children), is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is often described as the world’s largest “open air prison,” as Israel maintains a tight blockade, restricting all ingress and egress. Since mid-2013, unemployment has dramatically increased and delivery of basic services has decreased. More than 90 percent of the water in Gaza is unsuitable for drinking. The health system is close to collapse, according to the World Health Organization. Last year, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reported, “Palestinian children arrested by [Israeli] military and police are systematically subject to degrading treatment, and often to acts of torture.” The committee also concluded that Israel’s “illegal long-standing occupation” of Palestinian land, continued expansion of “unlawful” Jewish settlements, construction of the barrier wall into the West Bank (found by the International Court of Justice 10 years ago to violate international law), and the confiscation of land and demolition of homes and livelihoods “constitute severe and continuous violations of the rights of Palestinian children and their families.”

After Israel’s 2008 to 2009 Operation Cast Lead, in which nearly 1,400 Palestinians (82 percent of whom were civilians) and 13 Israelis were killed, a UN Human Rights Council report by a commission headed by Justice Richard Goldstone concluded, “Disproportionate destruction and violence against civilians were part of a deliberate policy [by Israel].”

In its 2009 report, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) found, “During Operation Cast Lead no type of property was left untouched: residences, hospitals, schools, mosques, factories and agricultural fields were demolished by the IDF.”

Israel, according to PCATI, employed

a coherent strategy that incorporated two major elements into the planning of Operation Cast Lead: 1) The implementation of the ‘Dahiye Doctrine,’ the principal tenet of which was to cause intentional suffering to civilians so that they would bring pressure to bear on those who were fighting against the IDF [Israel Defense Forces], and 2) The ‘No Risk’ policy, which placed absolute priority on preventing harm to IDF soldiers, even at the cost of greater danger to Palestinian civilians.

Israel is apparently pursuing the same policy in Operation Protective Edge.

In 2013, Falk said, “the people of Gaza have endured the unendurable and suffered what is insufferable for six years. Israel’s collective punishment of the civilian population in Gaza must end today.” He added, “Israel has the responsibility as the Occupying Power to protect the civilian population.”

“In circumstances of prolonged occupation and state terrorism,” Falk observed, “Hamas is entitled to claim rights of resistance, although their precise contours are not clearly established by international law. Hamas is certainly entitled to act in self-defense within the constraints of international humanitarian law.”

International Reaction

On July 12, 2014, the UN Security Council issued a unanimous statement calling for an immediate ceasefire and “de-escalation of the situation, restoration of calm, and reinstitution of the November 2012 ceasefire.” That ceasefire ended eight days of bombings of Gaza by Israel that killed 140 Palestinians, and rocket attacks by Hamas along the border that killed five Israelis. In its July 12 statement, the Council expressed “serious concern regarding the crisis related to Gaza and the protection and welfare of civilians on both sides” and called for respect for international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.

Hanna Amira, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the West Bank, said of the Council’s statement, “This announcement deals with the oppressor and the victim in the same way; it is a general call to end the fighting, without setting any mechanism to end the fighting. What is needed is an end to the aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee has called on “international governments to impose a two-way arms embargo immediately and to suspend bilateral agreements until Israel fully complies with international law.” Indeed, U.S. military aid to Israel also violates U.S. law. The Human Rights and Security Assistance Act requires that the United States halt all military aid to Israel because the latter has engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violation of internationally recognized human rights.

“Because collective punishment is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, [the Palestinian BDS National Committee] urge[s] the international community to pressure Israel to end its all-out military assault aimed against the total population of Gaza, open the Rafah crossing [between Egypt and Gaza] permanently and heed our call for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.” Organizations such as the Bill Gates Foundation, the Presbyterian Church USA and the United Methodist Church are divesting from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation, including Hewlett Packard, Motorola Solutions and Caterpillar.

“Israel is able to act with utter impunity because of the military, economic and political support it receives from governments around the world,” according to Zaid Shuaibi, a spokesperson for the Palestinian BDS National Committee. Indeed, Israel would be unable to carry out its policies of aggression in Gaza without the support of the United States, which gives Israel more than $3 billion per year.

The United States should demand an immediate ceasefire from both Israel and Hamas. The U.S. government should condemn Israel’s escalation, bombing and collective punishment of civilians just as forcefully as it has condemned Hamas’ firing of rockets. The Gaza blockade and limitations on freedom of travel of Gazans should be lifted and Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories should be ended.

Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, a former president of the National Lawyers Guild, and deputy secretary general of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers. Her books include Cowboy Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the Law. Her next book, Drones and Targeted Killing: Legal, Moral and Geopolitical Issues, will be published next month.

This piece first appeared on Truthout. Copyright, Truthout.org. Reprinted with permission.

Call us terrible people, but there’s nothing more entertaining than watching relationship drama play out over Facebook.

Take, for instance, this epic love triangle centered around a follicly gifted man named Matt:

With a goatee like that, who even needs a girlfriend?

h/t Instagram

In fundraising, momentum is key. Maintaining awareness — and, hopefully, support — of a particular cause is the great challenge that faces any nonprofit organization. We strive to create and preserve a sense of urgency surrounding chronic societal issues that may only occasionally elevate their way into the public eye. This dynamic presents opportunities to tell success stories that can bring positive attention to long-term problems that may not necessarily be en vogue.

Hurricane Sandy is a useful and relatively recent case study. In the days and weeks following the historic superstorm, the terrible damage was headline news across the country. The around-the-clock coverage served as a de facto fundraising campaign that drove millions of dollars in donations, as news anchors shared with viewers how to donate with just a few mouse clicks or taps of a cellphone.

Feeling Groovy — and learning the importance of water safety — at the new Rockaway Y.

Sandy also brought to the fore a number of concerns that the YMCA and many other community organizations have been involved with for years, including hunger, housing, unemployment and education. Sandy drew newfound attention to these vital topics, and for a time nonprofits working in those spaces were rewarded in the form of increased donations, volunteerism and media attention.

While the flurry of support helped victims of the storm, the onus was — and remains — on philanthropic organizations to keep people aware of the longstanding problems facing the region and the good work they are doing to address systemic needs. It is nearly impossible to recapture the attention that arises in the immediate wake of large-scale emergencies. Nonprofits can, however, use a well-organized, overarching communications strategy that conveys the importance of fighting problems that are no longer “top of mind.”

One useful strategy is to focus on positive stories rather than reiterating the problem over and over. Weighty issues must be treated as such, but it’s essential not to deploy communications messages that are overly negative. Not only can such an approach present a philanthropic group in a gloomy light, it often leads to “donor fatigue” — a phenomenon that can sink even the strongest fundraising campaign for the worthiest cause.

Instead, identify positive stories — preferably about the people who benefit from your organization day in and day out, or about those who work hard to fulfill its mission. Human stories resonate in powerful ways, and allow philanthropic entities to maintain support for an issue even if it isn’t particularly newsworthy at the time. Consider spreading such stories through physical and digital newsletters as well as social media dispatches.

Another tactic is to find opportunities to be part of the ongoing conversation. While Sandy may have struck years ago, occasions like Hunger Action Month provide a platform for nonprofits to raise their cause into the public dialogue. Be prepared with initiatives — whether in the form of events, thought leadership activities, or anything else that drives attention — that capitalize on the sense of urgency that can dissipate so quickly.

Most importantly, a group can maintain momentum simply by executing on its mission over the long term. Philanthropic bodies that do their due diligence on a consistent basis are well-positioned to stand out in a positive way during times of heightened attention. At the YMCA, plans for the new branch in the Rockaways were underway long before Sandy. When the storm caused severe damage in the area, we ratcheted up our efforts to meet emergency community needs, including using certain Y branches as emergency evacuation facilities for displaced New Yorkers, distributing over 1,000 book bags filled with school gear in communities hardest-hit by the storm, and running two after-school programs at sites on both sides of the Rockaways peninsula. All those efforts could be considered prologue to the Y Rockaway branch opening in February 2014, solid proof of the organization tagline, “we’re here for good.”

While not every nonprofit works in the emergency response space, most all philanthropic organizations can seize upon people’s genuine desire to help during times of stress and sustain their sense of mission over the long term. In other words, I respond to a crisis, and stayed for long-term problem-solving.

A day after two polls indicated she would defeat Rahm Emanuel if an election were held now, an individual seen by many as the Chicago mayor’s top obstacle to reelection announced she will not challenge him for the post.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Tuesday afternoon she will not run against Emanuel in the 2015 mayoral election. In a statement first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, she said “I have decided to rule out a run for Mayor of Chicago in 2015 because I made a commitment to reform Cook County’s criminal justice system, transform our healthcare system, and ensure the viability of our pension system.”

While Preckwinkle had repeatedly said she was planning to run for reelection to her county post, she had not specifically shut the door on a possible mayoral run prior to Tuesday’s announcement.

In a statement released shortly after Preckwinkle’s announcement, Emanuel described his rival as “a strong partner in tackling many of the challenges facing Chicago neighborhoods, and an outspoken voice for criminal justice and pension reform.” He heralded the city-county cooperation with saving Cook County taxpayers millions.

Earlier Tuesday, the mayor was questioned about the recent polls indicating that rivals including Preckwinkle and Chicago Teachers Union Karen Lewis could stand in the way of his reelection. Emanuel reportedly deflected the questions, stating there would be another “time for polling and politics.”

Meanwhile, Lewis said she has already assembled an unofficial exploratory committee for a possible mayoral campaign.

A Hawaii man faces a slew of charges after allegedly stealing a school bus while drunk and crashing it into a utility pole on Friday. The collision allegedly knocked out electricity in several towns.

Nineteen-year-old Otto W. K. Wolfgramm Jr. was arrested and released the next day on $3,000 bail, police reported to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

A witness reported seeing a yellow school bus driving recklessly on a highway on the island of Maui at about 11:30 p.m. Friday. Police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped of so the officer did not continue to pursue the bus, according to KITV.

A little while later, the school bus crashed into a utility pole. Wolfgramm — who was a “former MM firefighter” with the U.S. Navy according to his Facebook page — took off on foot. Police officers apprehended him after witnesses called in his whereabouts.

The accident caused power outages in a number of towns on the island and shut down Hana Highway for several hours as the downed utility pole and power lines were repaired, according to Maui Now.

Police said Wolfgramm was charged with unauthorized control of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence, prohibitions involving minors, reckless driving, inattention to driving, accidents involving damages and not possessing a commercial driver’s license, the Star-Advertiser reported. Police also confirmed the bus had been stolen.