RSS
Smith College Building Occupied by Anti-Zionist Group
Members of the Smith College Students for Justice in Palestine occupying College Hall on April 1, 2024. Photo: Screenshot/Instagram
Dozens of anti-Zionist students at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts have been occupying an administrative building for several days in an attempt to force administrators to accede to demands calling for the school’s endowment to be divested of holdings in companies they have deemed as “weapons manufacturers and war profiteers” linked to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
The students amassed in College Hall on Thursday, according to a social media post by the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). They decided on the course of action after the college first rejected similar demands, which are based on false accusations that Israel is committing a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. On Sunday, the group said the demonstration will continue until administrators concede and give them what they want, including “immunity” from disciplinary sanctions.
“Smith is, while indirectly so, invested in war and the deaths of Palestinians,” a student identified as Gertrude told Smith College president Sarah Willie-LeBreton and dean Alexandra Keller during a negotiations meeting held on Saturday inside College Hall, according to notes of their exchange shared by SJP. “Any dollar to weapons is a dollar to genocide, white supremacy, and war.”
According to SJP’s notes, Willie-LeBreton was forced to chastise the students about their conduct several times. While she spoke, one of them began chanting “Free, Free, Palestine! What do we want? Divestment! When do want it? Now!,” to which Willie-LeBreton responded, “I’m showing you respect because I hear, because I’m appalled by the violence, and I want to find a way to resolve this together. Screaming at me every time I talk does not show me respect; it does not begin to show me the respect I am showing you.”
Despite proclaiming to be on the side of the protesters Willie-LeBreton — who responded last month to an incident of antisemitism on campus by condemning Islamophobia — refused to accede to their demands, citing the limits of her role as president and the unfeasibility of convening the college’s board of trustees, the body charged with making recommendations about the school’s endowment. Later on, she seemed to voice support for the students’ position on what they have described as “weapons manufacturers and war profiteers” allegedly linked to Israel.
“I would like to see our investments at zero,” Willie-LeBreton said. “Do I appreciate the sense that any investment at all, no matter how minuscule, is investing in a military industrial complex that takes lives every day? Yes. I am a Quaker, I am a pacifist, and I am the president of this college. It is not lost on me how important my voice is to this college.”
Willie-LeBreton, however, refused to promise the students immunity from any punishment the college’s conduct review board may levy against them. She said explicitly that they were obstructing university operations in contravention of school rules.
“I would participate whatever my position is in those final reviews,” Willie-LeBreton was quoted as saying. “Before seeing what the review board has looked at, I am not willing to promise that any [demand] that comes before I will take action on.”
The meeting concluded with the students complaining that Willie-LeBreton’s personal beliefs fell short of “translating to material change.” The college president strongly advised them to vacate the building.
“Disruption is necessary when injustice is occurring,” SJP said on Sunday in a statement attached to a new petition explaining their demands and defending their occupation of an administrative building. “There can be no status quo during genocide, at Smith College or anywhere. There is no disability justice, no equity and inclusion, no protection from legal discrimination, no class justice than can exist without a free Palestine.”
Smith College has not responded to The Algemeiner‘s request for comment about the occupation of College Hall or Willie-LeBreton’s comments to students.
In late February, someone at Smith College graffitied a swastika on campus and stole several mezuzahs, small parchment scrolls containing Hebrew verses from the Torah that members of the Jewish community fix to their doorposts. The Daily Wire first reported the story on X/Twitter.
Willie-LeBreton addressed the incidents in a letter to the campus community last month. She proclaimed that there is “no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia, or any form of hate at Smith College,” demonstrating what higher education experts have described as a reluctance on the part of university presidents to address antisemitism as a standalone problem.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has noted in numerous reports and public letters that SJP is responsible for terrorizing Jewish college students.
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.
The post Smith College Building Occupied by Anti-Zionist Group first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Iran Unveils ‘Gaza’ Drone With 1,000-km Range
The Gaza drone is seen in flight, armed with eight precision-guided Sadid-345 glide bombs. Photo: Screenshot
The Aerospace Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday unveiled its new heavy-duty drone, named Gaza, during a “hybrid operation” on the sidelines of a massive military exercise in southern Iran, according to semi-official Iranian media.
With a range of 1,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of at least 500 kilograms, this unmanned aircraft can carry up to 13 missiles in a single flight.
The Gaza drone features a wingspan of 22 meters, a takeoff weight of 3,100 kilograms, and a flight endurance of 35 hours, enabling it to perform extended missions.
Watch the video of Iran’s largest drone, unveiled today!
Named the Gaza Drone, this advanced aircraft successfully destroyed 8 targets with precision during its first demonstration. It will also play a key role in monitoring the nation’s borders.#Iran #Gazadrone #Gaza pic.twitter.com/cmyMNRcOW1
—
|| Alexander (@Sarbazrehbar) January 27, 2025
It also achieves a cruising speed of 350 kilometers per hour and has an operational radius of approximately 4,000 kilometers.
According to a press release from the IRGC, an Iranian military force and internationally designated terrorist organization, the Gaza drone successfully destroyed eight targets for the first time on Sunday, launching missiles equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities during the Great Prophet Authority military exercise in the Persian Gulf.
The announcement came days after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire deal earlier this month to end the 15-month war in Gaza.
The initial six-week first phase of the ceasefire includes a partial and gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Iran is the chief international sponsor of Hamas, providing the Palestinian terrorist group in Gaza with weapons, funding, and training.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, 26 additional hostages are expected to be released over the next month, along with hundreds more Palestinian prisoners who were largely detained by Israel for involvement in terrorist activities.
The post Iran Unveils ‘Gaza’ Drone With 1,000-km Range first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
Israel, NASA Reach Agreement to Send First Israeli Female Astronaut to Space
Axiom’s four-man team lifts off, riding atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Steve Nesius
Israel has reached an agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to send the first Israeli woman astronaut to space, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Gila Gamliel announced on Monday at the Israel Space Agency’s 20th Ilan Ramon International Space Conference.
“We received approval from NASA to send the first Israeli female astronaut into space,” Gamliel said at the conference in Tel Aviv. “We in Israel have now begun the process of searching for our candidate among our brave women.”
Gamliel, who visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in September, did not elaborate on when or in what capacity the Israeli female astronaut will join NASA as part of a mission into space.
“This milestone will serve as an inspiration for future generations and emphasize the importance of gender equality in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” she added.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who is in New York to speak at the United Nations as part of an event honoring the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, sent a pre-recorded message that was played at the Ramon Conference.
“We are living in an incredibly exciting times for space exploration,” Herzog said. “Humanity is discovering new ways to use space technologies not only to explore the stars, but to advance global health, stability, and prosperity on our own planet. Space exploration is the next frontier for humanity, and I am convinced that it will play an increasingly bigger role in science and that humanity will ultimately settle in space as well.”
“Israel, despite its small size, is a global trailblazer in the field of space,” he added. “Already now, we partner with the leading space programs in the world, including with some of our Abraham Accords partners. I am hopeful that we will see many exciting new collaborations ahead. This leadership at the forefront of new space is absolutely critical for Israel’s future security, prosperity, and scientific leadership in the world, and we must make it a top priority.”
The Ilan Ramon International Space Conference is named after the first Israeli astronaut, who was killed along with his six crewmates in February 2003 when NASA’s space shuttle Columbia broke apart as it returned to Earth’s atmosphere. Ramon was 48 years old.
“NASA and Israel have a long-standing relationship, and this is an exciting time in space for both of our nations,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free in a recorded message shared at the conference on Monday. He noted Ramon’s legacy as the first Israeli astronaut and also mentioned Israeli citizen Eitan Stiva and his historic first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. He additionally mentioned that NASA and Israel have extended their partnership regarding moon exploration.
The Israeli company Stream Red developed a radiation belt that was sent to the space station and on the Artemis 1 experimental mission, and has helped improve the understanding of radiation exposure on Earth. In 2022, Israel signed the Artemis Accords to show its commitment to scientific cooperation and space exploration.
The post Israel, NASA Reach Agreement to Send First Israeli Female Astronaut to Space first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
RSS
The Three-Finger Symbol: A Narrative of Death vs. A Narrative of Life
Former hostage Emily Damari is reunited with her mother, on Jan. 19, 2025. Credit: Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.
We all felt deeply moved watching Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Karina Ariev, and Daniela Gilboa return to Israel’s borders and into the embrace of their families, joining Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were released last week.
Despite Hamas’ attempts to stage their release as a propaganda spectacle — and the Palestinian celebrations about the release of heinous murderers from Israeli prisons — Emily Damari’s brave gestures remind us of the profound differences between the narratives embraced by each side.
In 2014, following the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldiers Gil-Ad Michael Shaer, Eyal Yifrach, and Naftali Fraenkel, a new visual symbol emerged in the Palestinian street: three raised fingers.
This gesture, initially a reaction to the kidnapping, quickly evolved into a powerful propaganda emblem, gaining significant traction on social media. A Facebook page titled “3 شلاليط ثم اقتحامات ثم انتفاضة ثالثة” (“Three ‘Shalits,’ then an invasion, then a third Intifada”) framed the kidnapping as part of a broader historical narrative of resistance. Drawing parallels to the abduction of Gilad Shalit, the gesture aimed to amplify a sense of Palestinian “victory.”
However, like many narratives in the digital age, this one had a short lifespan. The Facebook page ceased activity after a few months, and the symbol faded from public discourse. The dynamic nature of social media reduced this emblem to a fleeting memory — momentary propaganda rooted in violence and death.
Reclaiming the Symbol: The Israeli Side
A decade later, the world has changed. During the events of October 7, 2023, and the “Iron Swords” war, Palestinian narratives resurfaced rapidly across social media. Yet, alongside them, a completely new narrative emerged from the Israeli side.
The abduction of Emily Damari, a young woman taken from her home in Kfar Aza by Hamas terrorists, became an extraordinary symbol. During her abduction, Emily suffered injuries to her hand, leading to the amputation of two of her fingers. Yet her resilience and courage never wavered. Upon her release, Emily prominently displayed her hand, missing two fingers, as a symbol of the indomitable Israeli spirit.
Her bravery was also evident in her request to the terrorists to release 65-year-old Keith Sigal before her — an extraordinary act of humanity in the face of captivity’s horrors.
A stark contrast emerges between the Palestinian use of three fingers and the Israeli use of the same symbol.
While the Palestinian gesture celebrated violent “victory” through kidnapping and murder, the Israeli narrative draws strength from the pursuit of life, survival, and hope. Emily Damari’s hand has become a gesture of life triumphing over death, courage overcoming violence, and hope transcending despair. In many ways, it embodies the entire story of Zionism.
This powerful gesture serves as a reminder of the fundamental difference between us and our enemies. We celebrate life and courage, while they revel in death and hatred. Even in these challenging days, we continue to choose hope and life. This choice is the source of our strength and our enduring resolve.
“There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children will return to their own land” (Jeremiah 31:17).
Itamar Tzur is an Israeli scholar and Middle East expert who holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Jewish History and a Master’s degree with honors in Middle Eastern Studies. As a senior member of the “Forum Kedem for Middle Eastern Studies and Public Diplomacy”. Tzur leverages his academic expertise to enhance understanding of regional dynamics and historical contexts within the Middle East.
The post The Three-Finger Symbol: A Narrative of Death vs. A Narrative of Life first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login