For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and an ASSANGE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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Norway, Ireland and Spain say they will recognize a Palestinian state, deepening Israel’s isolation, by Joseph Wilson, Melanie Lidman and Joseph Krauss | AP TEL AVIV — Norway, Ireland and Spain said today they would recognize a Palestinian state. Israel immediately denounced the decisions and recalled its ambassadors to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israeli forces move deeper into Rafah in night of heavy battle, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters CAIRO — Israeli tanks advanced to the edge of a crowded district in the heart of Rafah today during one of the most intense nights of bombardment of the southern Gaza city since Israel launched its offensive there this month. Israel says it has no choice but to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state, by Nerijus Adomaitis and Gwladys Fouche | Reuters Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said today that Ireland, Norway, and Spain were announcing they would recognize the state of Palestine and take steps to give effect to the decision. He said he was confident other countries would take a similar step, adding that Ireland was resolute in fully recognising . . .READ MORE . …
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Spain, Norway and Ireland will recognize an independent Palestinian state. Reported by Leila Fadel and Miguel Macias | NPR Norway, Ireland and Spain recognized a Palestinian state today in a historic move that drew immediate condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians. Slovenia and Malta may follow. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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How 2 debunked accounts of sexual violence on Oct. 7 fueled a global dispute over Israel-Hamas war, by Tia Goldenberg and Julia Frankel | AP JERUSALEM — It turns out that what a member of a search and rescue organization thought had occurred at a home in the kibbutz ravaged by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack had not. But it took months for the organization to acknowledge that his and other mistaken accounts were wrong. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 21 Biden responds to the ICC seeking arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and Hamas. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR President Biden called it outrageous that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and defense minister and three Hamas leaders. Click HERE to watch and listen.
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FROM MAY 21 Israeli authorities briefly seize the Associated Press’ broadcasting equipment. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR Israeli authorities have seized broadcasting equipment of the Associated Press. It had been used to create a live feed into Northern Gaza filmed from the Israeli border. Click HERE to listen and read.
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The ICC has suspended Israel’s licence to kill, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye For 76 years, Israelhad a narrative more robust as a protective shield than any Iron Dome. Self-determination for post-Holocaust Jewry was not merely a necessity, this narrative went, it was a moral imperative. Any state that emerged was immune . . . READ MORE . . .
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West divided over ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant. From Anadolu Agency. While the International Criminal Court arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant have elicited various responses from Western countries, criticism of the ICC by nations such as the US and the UK indicates . . . READ MORE . . .