Mick Hartley

Former Palestinian ambassador to India Osama Al-Ali: Hamas must release all Israeli hostages to save what's left Of Gaza.

"The leaders of Hamas are in Qatar, not Palestine. When they are in Palestine, then they will have the right to speak. They have no right to speak from Qatar, Turkey, Iran, or the Devil knows where. […]

"I believe, suggest, and demand that Hamas releases the 150 prisoners in its custody for free. Enough! Hamas should do this to protect what is left of Gaza and its people. If Israel continues to kill 100 people every day in order to release two [hostages], it will ultimately release them all while massacring all of Gaza. This will be a great loss. I suggest that Hamas hands the prisoners over to Egypt or Qatar – the good mediators out there – and say to Egypt and Qatar: 'These prisoners are your responsibility now, and you deal with Israel, and whatever you decide, we will accept.' This is what Hamas should do. […]

"The truth is that Hamas carried out a terrible and murderous coup, which was unparalleled in the history of Palestine. Nevertheless, we forgave them, kept silent, and referred to it as a 'split' rather than a coup. We did all this and made all these concessions, in order to reconcile… We begged them for reconciliation, because we knew that they would let Gaza go to hell, and, indeed, this is what they have done. […]

"Therefore, Hamas must become reasonable. For their own good, they should transfer the 150 or 160 [hostages] to Qatar and Egypt, and tell Qatar and Egypt to do as they see fit. This is how they will save themselves. But the [Hamas leaders] had better not return to Gaza, because the people of Gaza will slaughter them."

The trans capture of the Globe:

In summer 2022, the Globe staged a controversial production, I, Joan, which ‘reimagined’ Joan of Arc as nonbinary. To prepare us as staff to tackle the thorny topic of gender identity, we received training from a trans lobby group called Gendered Intelligence. This organisation works closely with disgraced trans-youth charity Mermaids (currently under investigation by the Charity Commission) and had previously advised the now defunct Tavistock gender-identity clinic.

During these training sessions, Gendered Intelligence told us to ‘remove unnecessary gender divisions’ by making toilets gender neutral and to keep a child’s trans identity secret from their parents, which might come up during one of the workshops the Globe runs for schoolchildren. Obviously, this goes against basic safeguarding principles (and the new government guidance on trans issues for schools agrees). This was particularly concerning given that the theatre welcomes thousands of children every year.

Soon after these sessions, signs went up on the toilets, declaring them all to be ‘gender neutral’. Neither staff nor customers were consulted about this. To make matters worse, sanitary bins were not provided in what were previously the men’s toilets, rendering them effectively useless to women.

This goes against health-and-safety requirements. If women cannot depend on finding adequate sanitary provision, they will avoid going out in public. This is one step towards reinstating the ‘urinary leash’ that historically kept women at home. Perhaps the Globe is taking its mission to preserve the past a little too seriously.

So men can use the women's toilets, but women can't use the men's. Perfect. 

In 2022, the Globe’s official X account posted a poem calling gender-critical women ‘bitches’. And at one point during I, Joan, Joan of Arc herself tells the audience that: ‘Women are worried about the wrong things; Twitter and toilets.’

Even more on the nose, the programme for the show contained an article that claimed that the real-life Joan ‘died for the right to crossdress’. It also declared ‘death before detransition’. This is particularly offensive, given the growing number of detransitioners who deeply regret undergoing gender-reassignment treatments….

My battle with the Globe’s management opened my eyes to the brave new world we seem to be living in. Raising concerns about women’s rights and child safeguarding is viewed as trouble-making. Refusing the play along with outrageous lies makes you a ‘bigot’. Speaking out against trans orthodoxy can get you cancelled and risk your career.

The author, writiung under a pseudonym, no longer works at the Globe.

These figures are staggering but they only stand to reinforce what many Jewish people know – it’s not fun being Jewish in the UK at the moment. But maybe it’s time we looked behind the figures and talked about how antisemitism affects us on a regular basis. How it affects me.… https://t.co/QJoOEqsI8H

— Fiona Sharpe 🧚🏻‍♀️🦄 (@SharpeFiona) February 15, 2024

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Full text:

These figures are staggering but they only stand to reinforce what many Jewish people know – it’s not fun being Jewish in the UK at the moment. But maybe it’s time we looked behind the figures and talked about how antisemitism affects us on a regular basis. How it affects me. I am a proud Zionist Jew. My Jewish identity is an integral part of who I am. Since Monday I have done 4 radio interviews & 1 tv interview all discussing antisemitism. Each time I come away with my heart pounding, feeling a little sick. It’s soul destroying talking about why people hate me just because I’m a Jew or why people think anti-Jewish racism is ok & acceptable as long as use they use the word Zionist instead of Jew (it’s really not, we know what you mean). It’s exhausting hearing colleagues talk with no thought at all of how it affects me about ‘evil Zionists’ or saying ‘Zionists not welcome’. It’s funny how I’m very welcome when you want me to help organise sanctuary sessions for asylum seekers or a food delivery for a family on the poverty line. And while all you sisters were happy for my support when Sarah Everard was raped & murdered or we all wanted to march together to #reclaimthenight, Jewish & Israeli women, brutally raped & murdered, were ignored & mistrusted, all while you yell #BelieveAllWomen. I have worked with at least 8 Jewish families locally whose children have experienced antisemitic bullying at school, I had a man in his 20s tell me it was safer to be gay in Brighton than it was to be Jewish & that he no longer wore a Star of David. I’ve had people glare at me when they see my star & then yell Free Palestine at me. I’ve even had a vile local Jew-baiter write a fake tweet suggesting I wanted more Palestinian children killed – ha-bloody-ha. The emotional toll this takes is huge. I’m tired of dealing with antisemitism. I’m tired of being expected to declare some sort of purity vow – I’m Jewish but….followed by some disclaimer about Israel, Netanyahu or nod that I have taken part in a Saturday march or demo – something to show I’m an acceptable Jew. And before all you lovely people bombard my tl with the fact that it’s so much worse in Gaza, let me remind you that it’s also worse in Sudan & Ukraine & Myanmar but you’re not demonstrating about that. So yes, the figures are awful but it’s about how it affects individuals, people, you & me. So maybe just look across at your Jewish colleague or friend & ask them how they’re doing, because the likelihood is that, like me, they’re pretty exhausted, a little bit scared and totally fed-up of being the unwilling victim of society’s acceptable form of racism.

The headline – Gender identity in play on KIPP basketball team:

The KIPP Academy girls basketball game on February 8 against the Collegiate Charter School of Lowell ended at halftime. The question is, why?

Collegiate Charter left after 16 minutes of play with KIPP leading, 31-14. The game goes into the books as a 10-0 forfeit win for KIPP.

According to multiple sources, KIPP has a male player on its girls basketball roster, despite the school offering a boys program. The player is reported to be more than 6 feet tall with facial hair.

KIPP officials refused to confirm the player’s gender identification. If the player identifies as female, participation on the girls team would seem to be supported by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for high school athletics in the Commonwealth.

According to the MIAA Handbook, Section 43.3.1: “A student shall not be excluded from participation on a gender-specific sports team that is consistent with the student’s bona fide gender identity.”

The MIAA does make it clear, however, that this rule is not to be enacted for the purpose of gaining a competitive advantage, as noted in the MIAA Handbook, Section 43.3.2:

Should a male, over six feet tall and sporting facial hair, be allowed to compete in the girls basketball team? A difficult question like this is best resolved by a study of the MIAA Handbook. 

“When a school district submits a roster to the MIAA, it is verifying that it has determined that the students listed on a gender-specific sports team are eligible to participate either based on the gender listed on their official birth certificate or based on their bona fide gender identity and that no students are included on the roster solely for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage in competitive athletics. The MIAA shall defer to the determination of the student and the student’s school regarding gender classification.”

Well, that clears that up. 

KIPP Athletic Director Anthony Grimaldi declined to answer questions on if the school believes the player was the reason for the forfeit.

“KIPP does not wish to make a comment at this time as to why the other team forfeited the game. We are looking forward to our next game,” Grimaldi said.

KIPP – which clinched its spot in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament – has a record of 10-7 behind first-year head coach Mike McCarthy after finishing 1-19 last season. 

That's a dramatic improvement. I wonder what's behind it.

Jim Clark, MIAA liaison for tournaments, technology and media, said the KIPP player would be eligible to play on the girls team in the upcoming state tournament, per the MIAA Handbook.

“They go based on the team that they’re on,” Clark said. “So if they play on the girls team or if they play on the boys team, they’d stay on that team in the tournament.”

According to the MIAA, the player cannot change teams during a given season, but can change from season to season. The MIAA follows Massachusetts General Law when it comes to issues of gender.

Of course.

We heard about Indiana's Autumn Cordellioné, aka Jonathan C. Richardson, back in August. He strangled his 11-month-old stepdaughter – "all I know is I killed the little fucking bitch" – and was sentenced to 55 years in prison. Then he decided he was a woman, and the ACLU – now, it seems, almost entirely concerned with trans activism – filed a lawsuit on his behalf claiming that he was being denied “gender affirming” surgery. The case is still in progress.

And now he's Muslim – "an Islamic practicing transwoman" – and he wants his hijab:

A trans-identified male currently serving a 55-year sentence for the murder of his infant stepdaughter has launched a lawsuit against the Chaplain at his prison after he was allegedly denied a hijab despite identifying as a Muslim woman. Autumn Cordellioné, previously known as Jonathan C. Richardson, is seeking $150,000 in damages….

Reduxx has now learned that that Cordellioné has also launched a separate suit against the prison’s Chaplain, Tony Gray. Gray has been a Chaplain at the facility since 2014, and volunteered at the institution prior to being offered an official role.

In the lawsuit, filed on November 3, 2023, Cordellioné accuses Gray of violating his First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment constitutional rights.

According to court records obtained by Reduxx, the incident of complaint took place in May of 2023 after Gray informed Cordellioné that he was not allowed to don a hijab outside of his cell. In response, Cordellioné said: “I wear the hijab in order to cover my head and ears for modesty purposes, as I am an Islamic practicing transwoman.”

At the time, Cordellioné’s registered religion was “Wiccan” and Gray pointed that out, to which Cordellioné replied that he was an “eclectic practitioner who is a member of the Theosophical Society in America.”…

Cordellioné is claiming that his equal protection rights were violated when he was barred from wearing a hijab outside of his cell, noting that male Muslims in the facility are allowed to wear kufis or taqiyah — a short, rounded brimless prayer cap.

“Islamic faith mandates the wearing of a kufi for males … Islamic faith also mandates females of the faith wear hijabs when outside the home and when not amongst men of their family. Tony Gray allows male Muslims to wear their sufis, but denies me, a transwoman, the same privilege.”

Cordellioné also alleges that Gray’s refusal to allow him to wear a hijab violated his eighth amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. In his argument, Cordellioné claims the he was subjected to “harassment and ridicule” by the Islamic community in his prison because he had not been allowed to wear a hijab.

“[Gray] should be aware, as Chaplain, the stigma and shame that is attributed to Islamic women when they go uncovered and without a hijab,” Cordellioné writes in his complaint. “Women are viewed as whores, tempters of men, and adulterators; by Islamic society both in and out of prison. I have been shunned, made a social pariah, and amongst my own religious community.”

He continues: “Without the support of the Islamic community, I will struggle and likely fail to achieve salvation for by [sic] Mohammed’s teachings a Muslim who knows of the teachings, yet strays from them, will never reach heaven.”

In his stated request for relief, Cordellioné is seeking the ability to wear his hijab in prison, as well as $150,000 in compensation.

An "eclectic practioner" – and something of a vexatious litigant too, it seems.

Killing his stepdaughter doesn't worry him as a bar to heaven, but not wearing a hijab – now that's serious.

The three women who proudly wore parachute images at a Gaza rally soon after October 7th, in clear celebration of the Hamas terrorists who arrived by paraglider to carry out their vicious pogrom against Israeli women and children, were found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act – but the nice judge decided not to punish them.

The judge who “decided not to punish” three women displaying parachute images at a protest had recently liked a social media post branding Israel a “terrorist” and calling for a “free Palestine”.

Three weeks ago Tan Ikram, 58, the deputy senior district judge, liked the LinkedIn post by a barrister who had previously promoted conspiracy theories claiming that Israel allowed the October 7 attack.

Ikram, who told the women in court that he had decided not to punish them, may now face disciplinary action after judicial guidance issued last year stated that judges known to have strong views should consider whether to hear a case.

On Wednesday senior legal figures including a former home secretary and a Jewish campaign group criticised Ikram and called for a review of the sentencing.

Downing Street said that it had referred the case to the attorney-general, describing the sentencing decision as “deeply troubling”. A source said: “Serious questions are being raised in government on how a judge posting this online was able to preside over this landmark case and what this means for the sentencing decision.”…

After the sentence, the Jewish Leadership Council said that the women had got off “scot-free”.

Judge Ikram told the women: “Each of you stands convicted of a terrorist offence. There is nothing to suggest the police of their own volition were going to take any action. You’ve not hidden the fact you were carrying these images. You crossed the line, but it would have been fair to say that emotions ran very high on this issue.

“Your lesson has been well learnt. I do not find you were seeking to show any support for Hamas.”

Ha. If he ever becomes an ex-judge, he could maybe try for a career in comedy.

The post which was liked by Ikram stated: “Free Free Palestine. To the Israeli terrorist both in the United Kingdom, the United States, and of course Israel you can run, you can bomb but you cannot hide — justice will be coming for you.”

It was posted by Sham Uddin, a barrister who is standing to be an independent MP in east London and has made a series of anti-Israeli posts, including an October 7 conspiracy theory that Israel knowingly allowed the attacks to take place to “expel” Palestinians.

Lovely.

From Ikram's Law Society entry: "If someone like me can make it, then anyone can." Hmm.

Update: this is the same judge who cleared trans activist Sarah Jane Baker of encouraging violence after he shouted out to a crowd at a London Pride event, “If you see a Terf, punch them in the fucking face".

From the Times:

The Hamas attacks on Israel and their aftermath drove antisemitism in Britain to its highest levels in over 40 years, new figures reveal, as the home secretary condemned the “utterly deplorable” rise.

James Cleverly decried recent “antisemitic hatred and abuse” after a charity’s report found that UK incidents surged almost 150 per cent to more than 4,000 in 2023.

The home secretary said: “We know the Jewish community need to continue to see that tackling antisemitism is a priority for us. I will do everything in my power to ensure they are safe, and just as importantly feel safe.”.

The Community Security Trust (CST) report found antisemitic incidents had surged to 4,103, by far the highest number recorded since the charity began logging cases in 1984.

Well yes, but that 150% rise doesn't quite capture the real story. The spectacular rise is only since October 7th.

It said that the spike in anti-Jewish incidents had been “inspired” by Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel, with almost 2,700 occurring on or after that date. The skyrocketing levels of antisemitism in Britain suggested it was, initially, in “celebration” of the attacks, the report said.

In celebration. 

There were 70 cases of Holocaust denial and 184 involving celebrating the Holocaust.

Some glorified Hamas’s act of terror as a repeat of Holocaust, while others “lamented Hitler’s failure to eliminate world Jewry entirely”. On eight occasions, the perpetrator simultaneously denied and glorified the Holocaust.

The terms Zionism or Zionist were used on 260 occasions. In at least 427 cases, the phrase “Free Palestine” was used….

There was a 203 per cent increase in university-related antisemitic incidents, with 182 reported in 2023. Five were classified as assault, 13 as damage and desecration, 15 as threats, 146 as abusive behaviour and three of antisemitic literature. Seventy-two took place on campus or university property.

One report was made about Holocaust-related antisemitic content on a university reading list.

CST said school and university-related incidents were consistent with a “worrying trend” and a “previous upswing in antisemitism” witnessed in the education sector in 2021.

A chilling report from "leftist, liberal Zionists" Columbia professor Shai Davidai and his wife Yardenne Greenspan at Tablet. They made the unforgivable error of speaking out against Hamas.

We did not see this coming. But now that we’ve seen it, we will never unsee it. We will never forget the gaslighting. We will never forget the denial of our trauma. We will never forget the victim-blaming and the way they had us believing that advocating for our own lives was an injustice to others. Some things are just not so easy to brush off.

As Shai continued to call out Columbia University’s moral cowardice, we began to receive another kind of hatred—the public, faceless kind so easy to mete out from behind a keyboard. Every morning, as we sift through the hundreds of hateful emails and online comments that Shai receives each day, we are reminded that life will never be the same again. From memes of rats with big, curving noses to threats of physical violence, from the publicizing of our personal information to the dissemination of egregious lies about Shai and his parents, from unsubstantiated criticism of Shai’s professional conduct to conspiratorial antisemitic rants, we believe we’ve seen it all. Shai is regularly called a Nazi, a Zionist pig, a genocidal baby murderer, a kike. Thousands have called for his death. While a few people get in touch privately to offer their support, almost none of our friends have dared to publicly stand by his side. Many of Shai’s colleagues are regularly cc’d on these hateful missives. None have spoken up.

Gnarly black twisted dancing sinuous hornbeams on a muddy morning in Queen's Wood and Highgate Wood:

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They've given up really, haven't they? – the police.

At a rally in Edinburgh, a @PoliceScotland officer asked a Jewish bystander to hide his Star of David, to avoid “triggering” the protesters.

The police officer is clearly worried that he and his colleagues are heavily outnumbered and that these protesters could pose a threat to… pic.twitter.com/kI8As7KNCm

— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) February 14, 2024

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