News Lines Magazine October 8, 2024
[Dr. Zunes urges readers to please circulate this important article widely, particularly to those in swing states who are reluctant to vote for Harris because of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy.]
A detailed analysis of how Kamala Harris is seriously constrained by her role as sitting vice-president from breaking with the Biden administration’s hard-line support for Israel, but would likely take a significantly more moderate position and would likely end the wars once she became president.
Category: foreign policy
foreign policy
Lecture: Antisemitism in the Pro-Palestinian Movement: What’s Real, What’s Not, and Why it Matters
Lecture at University of San Francisco, Sept. 26, 2024, that critically examines charges of antisemitism in the U.S. pro-Palestinian movement.
Gaza War Prompts Attacks on Academic Freedom
Americans for Middle East Understanding, Sept. 28, 2024:
During the wave of campus protests opposing the US-backed war on Gaza and calling for divestment from Israel, students weren’t the only demonstrators to face arrest; supportive faculty members were also caught up in the crackdown… “We are witnessing a new era of McCarthyism where a House committee is using college presidents and professors for political theater… And Columbia isn’t the only university where faculty feel their academic freedoms are being steadily revoked…
UN: Charter Reform & Threat If Trump’s Elected
Two articles quoting Dr. Zunes:
* On the threat to the United Nations system if Trump is elected.
Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and Director of International Studies at the University of San Francisco, who has written extensively on the politics of the United Nations, told IPS: “Yes, this would indeed be disastrous and UN funding for these agencies and affiliated institutions would indeed be cut”. It should be noted, however, that Biden has already eliminated U.S. funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and has threatened to eliminate funding to any organization that has Palestine as a full member. Though Harris has generally been less hostile to international legal norms than Biden, I have seen no indication that Harris would reverse these policies, said Zunes. “Given Trump’s disrespect for domestic laws and institutions, it’s not surprising he would have a similar contempt for international laws and institutions,” he declared.
* On UN Charter reform: “Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco, told IPS proposals for Security Council reform generally go nowhere due to opposition from the veto-wielding permanent members who do not want to lose their advantages under the current archaic system. However, this proposal, or some variation of it, might have a chance of success in light of the fact that it is being pushed by the United States, which has historically been an opponent of such reforms, he pointed out. Furthermore, given that each of the P5 desire to extend their influence in Africa and among small island states, it would not reflect well on them to oppose such an effort, Zunes declared.”
Radio & Podcast: 4 Interviews
- Recent developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and U.S. policy with Kris Welch on KPFA-FM and affiliated stations [9/6/24 starts at 1:06:40]
- On the Iranian missile attacks and what led up to them, for a New York community radio station [10/2/24, 15 min.]
- On Israel’s war on Lebanon for KPFA-FM evening news [9/22/24 starts at the 2:30]
- On the war on Gaza, U.S. policy, and related issues for a northern California radio station [segment starts at 26:20]
Video: 10 Interviews Aug.-Oct. 2024
- Two from an Indian news show:
* On Israel’s war on Lebanon
* On the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks - Al Jazeera English: Interviewed along with Nicholas Noe and Gideon Levy about the implications of the Israeli assassination of Nasrallah and the ongoing war on Lebanon.
- Three short for San Francisco Bay area network affiliates:
* The Iranian missile attack on Israel and what led things to this point
* Israel’s attacks on Lebanon
* And on Gaza and U.S. policy. - Two appearances on the Santita Jackson Show:
* On escalating violence in the Middle East
* On the vice-presidential debate, along with the latest news from the Middle East - A ten-minute segment of a panel sponsored by the Arab Organization for Human Rights-UK, about the Biden administration and the ceasefire talks, U.S. policy towards Israel/Palestine, and how Harris would likely bring in a slight improvement in U.S. Middle East policy
- A short segment on a Singapore television news show about Israeli protests against Netanyahu and the Gaza War
Video: Oxford Union Debate Against Military Intervention to Promote Democracy
This House Would Fight for Democracy, Liberty & the Rule of Law Abroad, April 8, 2023 [11 mins., Prof. Stephen Zunes’ impassioned argument against John Bolton.]
Israel’s Orwellian Strategy in Lebanon
The Progressive October 2, 2024
… the Biden Administration is largely backing Israel’s Orwellian strategy in Lebanon: “escalate to de-escalate.” The upsurge in violence followed the controlled explosions detonated by Israel of pagers and walkie-talkies… killed dozens of people—including children and health care workers — and wounded thousands… only a minority were fighters… [source].
Democratic Platform Defies International Law on the Middle East
Truthout August 29, 2024
Despite indications Harris will have a better foreign policy than Biden, the Democratic Party’s platform’s segment on the Middle East — written primarily by Biden’s team — is very disappointing…
Interview: Trump Was Never a “Moderate” on Foreign Policy
Truthout August 21, 2024, by Daniel Falcone
Former President Donald Trump is sometimes depicted as having a less interventionist foreign policy than his Democratic rivals, but this is a myth, argues foreign policy scholar Stephen Zunes. The former president had an extreme militaristic agenda, which he disingenuously pitched as an alternative to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s in 2016…
Interview: U.S. Policy and the Gaza war and its impact on American politics
Community or Chaos with Marvin Hubbard, August 25, 2024
A 50-minute interview for a New Zealand radio station.
Interviews: U.S. policy, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon & Kamala Harris for KPFA Pacifica Radio
Dr. Zunes is the guest for three recent KPFA radio interviews:
During the first hour of KPFA’s “Talkies” show with Kris Welch
August 16, 2024 (segment starts at the 9:30 mark); also on
August 25 on KPFA Evening News (starts at 11:45); and earlier
August 11 on recent developments (starts at 2:10).
Interview: Kamala Harris, Israel Palestine and the 2024 Democratic Convention
KSQD-FM August 19, 2024; 55 minutes (Dr. Zunes’s segment starts at 5:40)
Video Panel – Brave Resistance: Iran’s Women Prisoners Up Against Execution Surge & Threats Of Wider Regional War
August 25, 2024 panel, Unitarian Universalists of San Francisco panel: Dr. Zunes addressed U.S. policy and the prospects of change in Iran (segment starts at the 13:35 mark, and in the Q&A session starting at the 1:32:30 mark).
Is the UN Ready for a Second Trump Presidency?
Inter Press Service August 29, 2024:
This article, which examines the dangers to the United Nations system should Trump return to office, quotes Dr. Zunes:
Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and Director of International Studies at the University of San Francisco, who has written extensively on the politics of the United Nations, told IPS: “Yes, this would indeed be disastrous and UN funding for these agencies and affiliated institutions would indeed be cut”.
Interviews: Gaza War, Radio Summer 2024
- Interview: Israel/Palestine, U.S. policy, and related issues on KMUD FM (at 1 hour). Find it at https://archive.kmudfm.org/ by scrolling down to “Friday Night Talk” at 7 pm July 26.
- On Netanyahu’s address before a joint session of Congress (July 25 Singapore radio, 13-mins. starting at the 1:45 mark)
- WMNF Tampa: Israel’s True Motivations – A talk with Professor Stephen Zunes April 18
- U.S. reaction to the recommendation of the International Criminal Court to prosecute Hamas and Israeli leaders for war crimes, along with other related issues regarding U.S. policy WORT-FM in Madison, Wisc., June
- Trial of Senator Menendez, contradictions in U.S. foreign policy, and other issues July 20 (50-min)
- U.S. support for Israel’s war on Gaza and the domestic and international opposition Chicago radio June 18 (50-min)
- Repression of dissident faculty voices and others critical of U.S. policy towards Israel/Palestine (June 3, 2024, KBOO radio, Portland, OR; Zunes’ half-hour segment begins about 36:30 mark. Note that the timing counts down.)
- Israel’s war on Gaza, the Biden administration’s rejection of international law, and the implications for the November elections( June 11, New Zealand radio, 45-min)
Interview: Israel/Palestine civilian deaths, US Policy & ICJ finds West Bank occupation illegal
KPFA Pacifica Network July 19,2024 Recent developments in Israel/Palestine, including mounting civilian casualties, U.S. policy and the International Court of Justice decision finding the Israeli occupation of the West Bank illegal (25 mins. starting at 1:05:00)
Interview: As Israel Refuses to End Genocide in Gaza, Threat of War With Hezbollah Looms
Truthout July 2, 2024: By Daniel Falcone with Stephen Zunes and Lawrence Davidson. Also summarized by HeadTopics.com.
For the past eight months, Hezbollah has attacked the northern portion of Israel in an attempt to pull the Israeli army out from Gaza, reports Al Jazeera. Fears of a wider war have prompted international calls to deescalate at the border…
Don’t Believe the Rampant Disinformation over Israel’s Escalation in Lebanon
Truthout August 2, 2024: The US is misrepresenting the strike on Majdal Shams and even the geography and political status of where it took place. Israel has been trading strikes with Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and armed group, ever since October. So far, the strikes have killed at least 542 people in Lebanon, including 114 civilians and at least 22 soldiers and 25 civilians in northern Israel and Israeli-occupied territory…
Will Kamala Break With Joe on Israel?
The Progressive, July 26, 2024: While her Senate record was hawkish, Harris has signaled she’d make justice for Palestinians a higher priority than Biden…