Media Approach under Pressure of Zionist Regime towards Gaza War

Strategic Council Online – interview: A researcher said: The level and depth of the Israeli regime's crimes in Gaza is so high that it has even raised the voice of the foreign media, and in case of escalation, it will definitely be to the detriment of this regime and its fans who provide media, political and security support.

In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Majid Tafreshi talked about the severe news censorship of the Zionist media and European and American media supporting this regime during the Gaza war: Part of the Israeli regime’s plan to advance its goals in the occupied territories is always accompanied by violence and terror, and a part of it has been followed through the creation of news and journalistic campaigns. From 1948 to 1988, the Zionists created several media groups, and the approach of justifying actions and intimidating the people was on the agenda of the Israeli regime.

After 1988, the matter became more organized, and today, the Israeli regime has a news apparatus in all political, espionage, and intelligence sectors that justifies the government’s behavior or distorts the narrative in the minds of its public opinion and the people of the region and the world.

He continued: This has been escalated during the last year that the war in Gaza has been going on. Until then, the Israeli regime called its opponents anti-Semitic, as it accused not only Muslims, leftists, and freedom lovers but even Jews whose families were victims of the Holocaust and criticized the government’s policies while using lobbying, money, and force. It has recruited several Westerners, Muslims, and Zionist Christians to advance its goals.

Tafreshi said this process has become more complicated for several years because they can no longer hide everything. As they were forced to, many journalists and journalists were killed or imprisoned, a clear example of which was the murder of Shirin Abu Akla, who was martyred by direct fire from Israeli forces while he was wearing a uniform and was a well-known person. On the other hand, when the Israeli regime is criticized by the world public opinion for the crimes in Gaza, with the support of its supporters in Europe and America, it either remains silent or denies and, in some cases, falsely announces that the guilty person has been punished. Still, that issue has never been followed up on.

This researcher continued: Many journalists were targeted by the military forces of the Israeli regime after the October 7 war, and according to official statistics, 116 journalists have been killed in Gaza and the occupied territories.

He said that despite all the news restrictions by the Israeli regime and its supporters in Europe and America, many reports have been published against this regime and its actions against the Palestinians and the people in Gaza, but the Israeli regime dismissed all of them under the pretext that they are in a state of war. In all the actions taken by the Israeli regime in these seven decades, and especially in the last year, it has never questioned the claims of this regime and the West about democracy and the defense of human rights and freedom of expression. The Europeans and Americans have always supported the actions of this regime. In some cases, such as the crimes of the Gaza war and genocide, when they were pressured by their public opinion, they tried to cover it up and did not even answer for their own public opinion.

Tafreshi stated: While journalists are still being targeted and killed in Gaza, Lebanon, and other places, the Europeans have a double standard towards the Israeli regime and do not protest, justifying that the Israeli regime is defending itself legitimately. Its crimes are closed. Human rights institutions and the United Nations are practically silent under the shadow of Europe and America’s support for this regime, and they are trying to portray the aggressor as the victim. Of course, sometimes we see that reports from European and American media reporters, as well as from some Arab countries in the region, are published realistically, but in general, foreign media are not allowed to publish independent reports about the events in Gaza, and this restriction even applies to civil groups. It also includes human rights inside the occupied territories under pressure.

He continued: What the Israeli regime has failed to achieve was its attempt to influence or divert the public opinion, which could not do anything in this regard, and apart from whether it achieves its goals in this war or not, this is the biggest failure. The international image of the Israeli regime has been seriously damaged not only in the region and among Arab and Muslim countries but also at the level of Europe and America.

This researcher said: Of course, the propaganda apparatus of the Israeli regime and the attempt to control public opinion and the media during the war in Gaza is being updated and has many facilities for this task, but the speed of its control and updating is as fast as the speed of developments and The news of this regime’s crimes in Gaza and Lebanon is not transmitted to the world.

Referring to the development and access to the Internet by the people in Gaza, in a situation where the media is wholly prohibited from addressing issues and developments or journalists and reporters are targeted and killed, he stated: Although the use of mobile phones, Smart and virtual space and the facilities that the Internet provides to people were generally limited in this region, but at the same time, these facilities and tools, despite their limitations, caused the news monopoly to be broken. People in Gaza were able to send developments and events to the world in the absence of international mass media in this region.

Wither Jolani’s Syria?

Yusuf Dhia-Allah

Since declaring himself the president of Syria, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani has dropped his nom de guerre and started to use his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa. He has also discarded his turban, trimmed his scraggly beard and put on a suit and tie.

To act and feel like a president, attire is important. After all, one has to meet leaders and officials of other countries. Mr Jolani is settling in and feeling comfortable in his new assigned role, given to him by his masters: the US, Israel and Turkiye.

He and his band of head choppers and organ eaters, however, have not given up all their old habits. Organ-eating may have been abandoned, at least in public, but head-chopping is still continuing.

Minorities—Alawites, Christians and Shi‘as—are targeted despite public assurances by Jolani that they will be protected. Gruesome pubic execution of civilians in villages in and around Homs have taken place. Who is responsible for such atrocities and why has Jolani’s regime failed to rein them in? Does it even want to stop them or this is part of a campaign to terrorize people into submission?

Jolani has publicly declared that former regime officials will be pursued and executed. Hanging of former officials have taken place and in one instance, one official was publicly executed. Their houses have been looted and ransacked.

No trials have been held; none deemed necessary. Vigilante justice is dispensed. This does not bode well for the future of Syria.

As these atrocities continue, Jolani is beginning to settle into his new position enjoying the trappings of power. Elections will not be held for four years, if at all, he has said repeatedly. He says that the constitution must be drafted first. Fair enough, but why would it take three years to do so, as he has claimed? Surely, even among the head choppers there must be some legal experts.

The real reason appears to be that now that Jolani and his henchmen are in power, they feel no need for elections. He could point to the neighbourhood. What country has held elections and which ruler is democratically elected: Muhammad bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, King Abdullah-II of Jordan, Muhammad bin Zayed of UAE or Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar? Jolani’s new best friends, the genocidal zionist war criminals are a breed apart. He is in good company.

It is the larger scene that bodes ill for Syria. Zionist Israel has occupied large swathes of southern Syria expanding its presence beyond the Golan Heights. The occupation army is building permanent structures on the occupied Golan Heights and on Jabal al-Sheikh (Mount Hermon).

There is not even a whisper of protest from Jolani and his henchmen against Israel’s brazen theft and occupation of Syrian land. Instead, Syria’s Interior Ministry has published a new map of Syria that excludes the Golan Heights. In the north west, Alexandretta has also been excluded, indicating it has been ceded to Turkiye. Under what authority are the new rulers handing over Syrian territory to Israel and Turkiye? Have they sought approval of the Syrian people?

Their venom is directed at Iran and Hizbullah. They are, however, tiptoeing in their relationship with Russia, aware that they need Moscow’s help. This was recently demostrated by the new regime receiving a fresh batch of Syrian notes amid a severe currency crunch (see also here). These were printed in Moscow during Bashar al-Asad’s regime but not delivered yet.

The irony is that the notes carry Asad’s picture on them! Is Jolani going to advise the people to tear out Asad’s picture? No doubt, we will soon see Syrian pounds with Jolani’s picture in suit and tie printed on them but for now he has to swallow this bitter pill. The bank notes’ saga accurately reflects Syria’s dilemma.

The Europeans have demanded that the new Syrian rulers close Russia’s naval base at Tartus and air base at Hmeimim before they will consider establishing relations with Damascus. Russian military presence has been drastically reduced but negotiations are underway to allow for the presence of Russian bases. Syria needs them to facilitate the unloading of goods.

Donald Trump has said that he does not wish to get involved in Syria, but the US still maintains about 2200 troops occupying the north-east of the country. That is where Syria’s oil fields as well as most productive lands are located, thereby maintaining a stranglehold on the country’s economy.

Not only is Syria under sanctions, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group headed by Jolani, is also sanctioned. America has been involved in a delicate love dance with Jolani. The $10 million bounty on his head was withdrawn soon after his band of armed thugs entered Damascus on December 8, 2024. Removal of his terrorist designation was necessary to facilitate meetings of British and American officials with Jolani in Damascus. On December 15, then US Secretary of State confirmed that American officials were in “direct contact” with Jolani and his group.

Welcome to the newly “liberated” Syria, now under zionist, Turkish, US occupation. Did we miss any names? The Arab regimes do not count for anything since they are all slaves of the US and zionist Israel.

SyriaAbu Mohammad al Jolani

Trump and Vance attack Zelensky in remarkable Oval Office exchange

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington optimistic that signing President Donald Trump’s desired minerals deal would stabilize their relationship and keep the U.S. on his side.

Turns out he was walking into an ambush.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance both turned on the embattled wartime leader during a remarkably tense exchange in the Oval Office on Friday, accusing Zelenskyy of failing to express sufficient gratitude for U.S. involvement and overplaying what they said was a weak diplomatic hand.

“You’ve done enough talking. You’re not winning this,” Trump said, raising his voice to Zelenskyy. “You have a damn good chance of coming out okay because of us.”

The fireworks started more than 40 minutes into what had been a cordial conversation about the economic agreement the two countries planned to sign and vague assurances from Trump about the U.S. standing with Ukraine if and when its war with Russia ends. But after the remarkable and very public spat, Zelensky was turned away from the White House, departing early as the leaders scrubbed a planned press conference and the signing of the framework for a deal to share future profits from Ukraine’s rare minerals.

Trump dismissed Zelensky with a TruthSocial post just before the leader’s SUV pulled back into the West Wing portico to ferry him away. “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations,” the president wrote. “I don’t want an advantage. I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Trump, who during the campaign said he could quickly and easily end the war, is now facing a more complicated geopolitical reality. But he continues to exert pressure on Ukraine, reversing America’s stance that defending the country’s sovereignty from Russian attacks was critical for global stability and security.

Russia’s foreign minister this week made clear that the Kremlin is not inclined to come to the negotiating table as it continues to make slow inroads along the war’s current battle lines in eastern Ukraine. But Trump has yet to criticize Putin publicly and instead has adopted the Kremlin’s positions, including opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine and the falsehood that Ukraine is responsible for starting the war. Russia attacked Ukraine three years ago without provocation.

Vance, who’d been sitting quietly during Friday’s meeting, took issue with the Ukrainian president’s criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who Zelenskyy referred to as a “terrorist” known for breaking his word as he pleaded for American military backing before a phalanx of TV cameras and journalists.

“I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office, litigating in front of the American media,” Vance told Zelensky. “Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems, you should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

Trump, who had earlier lauded Ukraine’s courage throughout the war and left the door open to the U.S. providing security guarantees, grew more animated as Zelensky tangled with Vance, who dismissed his invitation to come see the war in person as a “propaganda tour” aimed at maintaining the West’s financial support.

Zelensky warned Trump that — despite having a “nice ocean” separating the U.S. from Europe — America would eventually feel the impact of Russia overtaking Ukraine and potentially its neighbors.

“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel,” Trump shot back. “We’re trying to solve a problem.

He continued: “You’re in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good and very strong.”

Zelensky struggled to respond as Trump and Vance took turns infantilizing and berating him for what they said was a lack of gratitude and his strategic decision to state his case with the press in the room.

“Let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong,” Vance said.

“You have to be thankful,” Trump told Zelensky, expressing frustration that Ukraine’s leader, whose country has staved off Russian forces for three years, wasn’t more willing to make concessions that would quickly end the war. “You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. You people are dying. You’re running low on soldiers.”

Trump reminded Zelensky that he provided Ukraine with Javelin missiles in his first term — after President Barack Obama did not in response to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.

“You’ve got to be more thankful, because, let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards,” said Trump, suggesting that it was Zelensky’s posture — not Putin’s — that was the primary impediment to ending the war.

“It’ll be a tough deal to make, because the attitudes have to change,” Trump said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. And I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”

(Source: Politico)

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• Donald Trump
 
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy
 
• Vice President JD Vance
 
• Ukraine
 
• Russsia

Trump-Zelenskyy brawl ended with Ukrainians being booted out of the White House

Crescent International

Trump threw Zelenskyy out of the White House, literally!

With arms flaying and fingers pointing at each other, Friday’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskky at the White House was an absolute disaster.

They shouted at each other during the short but tense meeting and cut off the other in mid-sentence.

They were like children at a schoolyard brawl except that it was much worse.

The only thing they did not do was bite each other’s nose.

Trump is a nasty creature.

Zelenskyy was trying to out-bid him in nastiness.

The Trump-Zelenskyy shouting match was preceded by US Vice President JD Vance giving the Ukrainian visitor an earful, who in the words of Trump is a ‘mediocre comedian’ and a ‘dictator’.

Both Vance and Trump demanded Zelenskyy show some gratitude.

When that was not forthcoming, Trump told his aides to show Zelenskyy the door.

Lunch prepared for the visitors was also not served even though the Ukrainians wanted to stay, according to CNN.

They must have been really hungry.

The agreement on rare earth minerals that Trump had demanded as recompense for billions of dollars in arms supplies to Ukraine was also not signed.

The joint press conference scheduled for after the meeting was similarly cancelled.

Raising his voice, Trump called Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and told him he should be thanking the US, saying, “You don’t have any cards.”

A week earlier Zelenskyy had said Trump was “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia.

Trump in turn accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three”.

With so much nastiness all around, people are asking where do the US and Ukraine go from here.

It seems nowhere, as long as Zelenskyy is in power in Ukraine.

Trump obviously is not going to leave. He just won an election.

The most likely scenario is that Trump and the CIA might engineer a coup against Zelenskyy and install somebody in power who would do the US’s bidding.

With Trump at the helm, the US is also going down the drain.

Donald TrumpUkraineUS imperialismWhite HouseVolodymyr Zelenskyy

Leader’s envoy visits families of Hezbollah martyrs in Beirut

TEHRAN – Hojjatoleslam wal-Muslimeen Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, representing the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, visited the homes of families of Hezbollah martyrs in Beirut on Thursday night. 

The visit aimed to convey the Leader's greetings, congratulations, and condolences to the families of the martyrs.

Among the martyrs honored were Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Sayyed Hashem Safi al-Din, Ali Karaki, Fouad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, Hussein Hazimeh, Soheil Hussein Hosseini, and Mohammad Afif. In heartfelt conversations, the families expressed their deep gratitude to Ayatollah Khamenei and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to continue the honorable path of their loved ones. They emphasized their dedication to following the journey of Hezbollah's martyred commanders until achieving their ultimate goal and the destruction of the Zionist regime.

The visit concluded with the presentation of a copy of the Holy Quran and commemorative gifts from the Leader to the families of the martyrs.

A four-member delegation, including Hojjatoleslam wal-Muslimeen Akhtari, Sayyed Mojtaba Hosseini, Mohsen Qomi, and Sayyed Reza Taghavi, representing the Leader, arrived in Beirut on Sunday morning, to attend the funeral ceremonies of Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Martyr Sayyed Hashem Safi al-Din.

Their activities during this trip included reading Ayatollah Khamenei’s message at the ceremonies, attending memorial and commemoration events for the martyrs, meeting with scholars and Resistance figures in Lebanon, visiting war refugee camps and observing charity groups' activities, and visiting the families of the martyrs.

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• Ayatollah Akhtari
 
• Hezbollah
 
• Leader of the Islamic Revolution

Intensification of Iranophobia

TEHRAN PAPERS

TEHRAN - In a commentary, Jam-e-Jam addressed the propaganda by the Western media against Iran’s nuclear program and wrote: In recent days, we have witnessed a new wave of propaganda by Western media outlets and some regional officials about Iran’s nuclear program.

They claim that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon. Of course, this story is not new and has been raised for a long time. Iran has always emphasized that our country’s nuclear program has been completely peaceful. It seems that the main goal of such propaganda is to create a tense atmosphere and put pressure on Iran in international negotiations. This approach was especially intensified during the Trump administration. Israel, as one of the main players in this campaign, has always tried to place the issue of Iran’s nuclear program at the center of global attention to complete its propaganda mission.

Arman-e-Emrooz: Will Russia side with America against Iran?

In an analysis, Arman-e-Emrooz discussed Russia's position towards Tehran in the current situation by quoting international affairs expert Hassan Beheshtipour as saying: In the case of the Ukraine war, Russia could have insisted on diplomatic solutions instead of military aggression against the neighboring country under the pretext of the threatening NATO expansion, and in the end, even if it did not work, it could still increase its pressure through ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine to regulate Zelensky's behavior. Now, even if Russia's position in eastern Ukraine as an occupier is stabilized with American support, it will still face the costs of occupation. In any case, it is not unlikely that the Russians will turn their backs on Iran because of the concessions they received from the United States or hesitate to provide Iran with defense equipment; however, we should not pin hope on the support of Russia or China or any other power against the United States. Iran can increase its power and achieve the maximum possible benefits by adopting a balanced policy between global powers.

Sobh-e-No: Realism instead of black and white views toward Iran-Russia ties

Sobh-e-No discussed the Iran- Russia relations in an interview with Hamid Hakim, an expert on Eurasian issues. He said: In our relations with Russia, unfortunately, we either have a completely white or completely black view, each of which can have their specific reasons. The reality is that we must have a realistic view of these relations. This realistic view can determine our approaches in interacting with Russia in a specific and interest-oriented manner. The two countries can develop their relations and have good relations with each other. There are also good grounds to develop cooperation in various fields. When we examine these two countries, we see that they are regional and global powers. Both have capacities in different fields that can be important and useful for both, and these relations can definitely prove helpful in realizing capabilities. Interactions can bring good results for the two countries and send influential messages to other countries, especially the hegemonic front.

Iran: Role of Shahid Bagheri drone carrier

In an analysis, the Iran newspaper discussed the important role of the Shahid Bagheri drone carrier and wrote: By unveiling the Shahid Bagheri drone carrier, Iran has taken an important step in its sea-oriented development strategy. This development demonstrates Iran’s ability to transform existing technologies into advanced military platforms and is in line with the country’s sea-oriented development strategy. Since sea-based and air-based threats are considered important challenges for independent countries, including the Islamic Republic, the drone strategy is considered a vital component of the country’s military doctrine. It should be noted that Iran’s defense doctrine has been formed based on popular support and the use of the experiences of the Sacred Defense. This doctrine has helped reduce military threats over the past years. Peripheral and European countries have expressed their interest in participating in Iran's drills and acknowledge the Islamic Republic's capabilities. This shows that Iran is internationally recognized as an important player in the region, and its capabilities have been taken into account.

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• Iran
 
• Tehran papers
 
• Newspaper

Common sense does not stand Zionist regime's crimes: Assyrian patriarch

Tehran, IRNA – The patriarch of the Assyrian Church for Eastern Iran has condemned the Zionist regime of Israel’s crimes in the region, stressing that no common sense can stand them.

Marnier Sai Benyamin told IRNA on Friday that no logic can believe that those crimes are being committed in the 21st century in modern civilization.

Over the last year, the Zionist regime’s crimes have intensified; and unfortunately, international bodies have remained silent on those genocidal acts, the patriarch noted.

In his remarks, he expressed hope that God may grant adequate intellect, wisdom, and insight to the heads of the world countries to help return tranquility to the people.

Surely, Israel’s crimes are unacceptable; and any individual who believes in God will condemn them, he stressed.

Since October 2023, over 43,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza; in addition, about 70% of the housing units and infrastructures have been destroyed in the Strip.

Israel has also carried out a war against Lebanon and killed over 2,500 in different parts of the Arab country. The Zionist army assassinated the secretary general of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during its airstrikes.