Africa

Joseph Kabila appears in Kenya with other opposition leaders two weeks after being sentenced to death.

The UN General Assembly endorses New York Declaration on a two-State solution between Israel and Palestine. 12 September 2025. Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

By Alon Ben-Meir
NEW YORK, Oct 16 2025 (IPS)

The ceasefire agreement and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are only the first steps on the long and treacherous road that could end the calamitous, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In my recent article, “A Rare Alignment:The World Stands Ready, Are the Palestinians?”

I tackled what the Palestinians must do to realize their national aspirations. In this article, I address what the Israelis must do not only to end their conflict with the Palestinians, but also to salvage Israel’s moral standing, which lies in ruin in Gaza.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached a new breaking point, more precipitous now than any time before. Although Israelis have experienced unfathomable trauma as a result of Hamas’ horrific attack, now is the time for all Israelis to carefully examine the circumstances that have brought them to this fateful crossroads.

Decades of violent conflict and the persistent denial of each other’s rights culminated in Hamas’ savagery, followed by the longest and most devastating war, which has reframed the nature of the conflict. It made it clearer than ever before that those who wrote the obituary for a two-state solution must now rewrite their script. As much as co-existence is inescapable, so is the inevitable rise of a Palestinian state.

Choosing the right path would require courage and a new vision. The Israelis must first disabuse themselves of several beliefs embedded in their psyche and push for a just solution to the conflict with the Palestinians, which is central to gradually restoring Israel’s shattered moral standing, which only the Israelis themselves can reclaim.

Existential Threat
The Israelis have been indoctrinated to believe that a Palestinian state would pose an existential threat and must be prevented at all costs, which has been falsely promulgated for decades by egocentric, nationalist and corrupt politicians like Netanyahu. At this juncture, the Israelis need to accept the irrevocable reality of Palestinian existence and take action to mitigate their fear rather than perpetuate enmity.

Israel was created as a sanctuary for any Jew who wishes to live in peace and security. This millennium-old dream however, cannot be realized, as time has shown, as long as the Palestinians are denied a state of their own.

The Israelis need to overcome their anxieties and misguided beliefs by finding meaning and self-affirmation, which does not hinge on denying the Palestinians their own state. They should step away from the deeply rooted, misguided fear that a Palestinian state indeed poses an existential threat, because without it, Israel renders itself permanently insecure, as time has shown.

Hatred Toward the Palestinians
The Israelis’ hatred of the Palestinians is rooted in a century-old conflict, which has only deepened due to the continuing acts of violence and the prevalence of mutually acrimonious narratives. This is further compounded by the Israelis’ belief that the Palestinians refuse to accept Israel’s right to exist. Instead of focusing on practical measures of reconciliation necessitated by the inescapable coexistence, they clung to hatred, which subconsciously justifies their continuing resistance to Palestinian statehood.

A well-known proverb notes that “Hatred is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Indeed, hatred is self-destructive, and letting go of it is essential for peaceful coexistence. The Israelis must live in the present to free themselves from the shackles of past prejudices against the Palestinians and reach out rather than shun them.

Such an approach may surprise many Israelis, who will find that generally the Palestinians are a willing partner eager to engage, albeit only if they believe they stand a good chance of realizing their national aspirations.

Refusing the Reality of Coexistence
The Israelis need to come to terms with the fact that accepting what cannot be changed and embracing it with understanding and even compassion would ultimately serve their own interests. In essence, Israelis must use their collective power to create the conditions that produce mutual political, economic, and security gains, which is the only way to coexist peacefully. Israelis must ask what the alternative to peaceful coexistence is.

Has anyone come up with a viable and mutually acceptable alternative whereby both can live in peace, short of a two-state solution?

The irony is that while Netanyahu spent decades trying to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, his devastating onslaught on the Palestinians has only produced precisely the opposite. It has rallied the international community to support an independent Palestinian state like never before.

Israel can annex all the West Bank and Gaza, assuming that it could live with international isolation, sanctions, expulsion from various international organizations, etc., but where will the Palestinians go?

For how long can seven million Israeli Jews suppress seven million Palestinians living in their midst and around them? How many Palestinians can they kill, displace, or starve to death? What choice would the Palestinians be left with other than armed struggle?

Since coexistence is inescapable, under what kind of an umbrella do the Israelis want to live? Hamas’ savagery and Israel’s devastating retaliation only attest to the consequences of decades-long mutual systematic dehumanization.

Unless the Israelis accept coexistence as an unmitigated reality, they will have to raise generations of warriors trained to kill Palestinians, destroy their properties, and live by the sword for as far as the eye can see.

The Catastrophic Loss of Israel’s Moral Standing
There are no words to describe the lasting damage that the Netanyahu government has inflicted on Israel as a country and the Israeli people. The whole world was astounded to see Jews, of all people, committing crimes against humanity in broad daylight beyond the capacity of any human being with a conscience to grasp.

Yes, the world applies a double standard when it comes to the Jews, and for good reason. The Jews have suffered for millennia from persecution, discrimination, and expulsion, culminating with the Holocaust, and are expected, because of their tragic experience, to uphold the sanctity of life.

And while the Jews have lived by and spread the values of caring, compassion, empathy, and altruism—values that have shielded them throughout their dispersion—the barbaric Netanyahu government has betrayed these tenets of Judaism. It has left Israel, and by tragic extension, Jews round the world, with no moral ground to stand on while precipitating the exponential rise of antisemitism.

It is hard to imagine how any Israeli government would desert these values and perpetrate this inconceivable cruelty and vengeance upon the Palestinians. The killing of tens of thousands of women, children, and the elderly, the bombing of hospitals and schools, and the deliberate starvation of a whole people as a weapon of war, sent shock waves throughout the world, bewildering friends and foes.

The countries that admired Israel for its incredible achievements in all walks of life are now looking at it as a pariah state that has lost its moral compass and its way.

My Plea to the Israelis—Facing a Moral Reckoning
No one can make light of the trauma and the horrendous suffering so many of you have and continue to endure because of Hamas’ butchery and heartless imprisonment of the hostages. But your government’s retaliatory war, which quickly became a war of revenge and retribution that killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians, did not do justice to your sacrifices by committing horrific war crimes in your name.

The war in Gaza and its consequences demand that Israel face a moral reckoning. You need to confront your government’s actions that plundered the depths of human immorality. Your moral obligation is to rise against Netanyahu’s government.

Remember, the Palestinians will recover from the catastrophe they have endured, rebuild their lives, and coalesce around a renewed effort, with the mounting support of the international community, to realize their aspiration for statehood.

Israel, however, has sustained a far greater catastrophe by forsaking Jewish values. It will take a generation (or more) before your country can regain a measure of moral standing, and that is only if it ends the conflict with the Palestinians in a fair and just way based on a two-state solution.

Now it’s time for accountability. Following the release of the hostages, you now need to embark on bringing an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pour into the streets by the hundreds of thousands and demand the immediate resignation of Netanyahu and force him to face a commission of inquiry about his conduct before and after Hamas’ attack.

What you need to pursue now is building on the ceasefire and demanding that a newly-formed government move step-by-step toward implementing the Trump peace plan, which must culminate in establishing a Palestinian state.

This will not be a gift to the Palestinians. Rather, this is what you must do to transform the calamitous war in Gaza and the horrific pain, suffering, and losses you have sustained into a breakthrough on the road toward the long-awaited and desperately needed peaceful Israeli-Palestinian coexistence.

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.

IPS UN Bureau

 

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Depuis hier, un temps instable domine une grande partie du pays. Les pluies et les orages se poursuivent dans plusieurs régions, poussant les services de […]

L’article Fin de semaine pluvieuse en Algérie : pluies et orages persistants ce jeudi 16 octobre est apparu en premier sur .

The destruction and hunger that Sudan's war has brought leaves parents with some impossible choices.

The destruction and hunger that Sudan's war has brought leaves parents with some impossible choices.

The destruction and hunger that Sudan's war has brought leaves parents with some impossible choices.

The Council today decided on its position for negotiations with the European Parliament regarding the provision of a further €500 million in macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Jordan.

Raila Odinga was one of Kenya's most influential political figures despite five unsuccessful presidential bids.

Evidence of the intentional targeting of civilians in el-Fasher amounts to war crimes, researchers say.

Ein Haus in Staufen flog im Februar dieses Jahres in die Luft. Zwei Menschen kamen dabei ums Leben. Jetzt ist klar, wie es zu der Tragödie kommen konnte.

Aldi senkt den Brotpreis auf 99 Rappen. Warum Preise so stark fallen, welche Strategien dahinterstecken und was das für Markt und Handwerk bedeutet, erklärt Nina Heim, Expertin für Preisgestaltung und Konsumentenverhalten an der ZHAW.

Before the last weekend, most people in Madagascar had no clue who Col Michael Randrianirina was.

On 10 October 2025, thousands of Palestinian families moved along the coastal road back to northern Gaza, amid the extreme devastation of infrastructure. Credit: UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 15 2025 (IPS)

After two years of conflict with Israel, Hamas has released the remaining 20 living hostages, while Israel has freed 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees who have since returned to Gaza. Following a ceasefire agreement which took effect on October 10, Israeli forces are set to withdraw from designated areas within the Gaza Strip as humanitarian organizations mobilize to assist Palestinians in urgent need.

For the past two years, Gaza has endured relentless bombardment, while aid deliveries have been largely obstructed throughout the course of the war. Over the past three days, the United Nations (UN) and its partners have been operating on the ground to provide lifesaving assistance to displaced civilians—many of whom are finally returning home and receiving access to basic services for the first time in months.

“After so much horror and suffering there is finally relief at last,” said Olga Cherevko, the Spokesperson in Gaza for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). “Since the ceasefire took effect, the UN and our humanitarian partners have moved swiftly to scale up the delivery of humanitarian assistance across Gaza. The bombs have stopped falling and with that silence, came an opportunity and the responsibility to act. The ceasefire has allowed those who are suffering during the two years of war, Palestinian and Israeli families, a breath of fresh air and a light of hope after many dark months.”

On October 13, OCHA confirmed that Israeli authorities had approved the delivery of more than 190,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid—roughly 20,000 tonnes above the previous agreement—including food, medicine, and shelter materials. According to Cherevko, 817 aid trucks have successfully entered Gaza without obstruction, offering a moment of relief for Palestinian families devastated by the conflict.

UNICEF trucks bring life-saving supplies into Gaza for children and their families. Credit: UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

For the first time since March, cooking gas has been delivered to households in Gaza, while many residents have also gained access to frozen meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and flour—essentials that had been out of reach for months. “All these items, we’ve been needing for so long,” Cherevko told reporters on Tuesday. “This is going to make a massive difference in people’s lives because we’ve been seeing families and kids collecting garbage to cook with. This will be a huge breakthrough.”

As a result of improved security conditions within the enclave, humanitarian agencies have gained greater mobility, allowing them to reach several previously inaccessible areas—including the north, where access had been most restricted and needs are most severe. OCHA has fully mobilized to deliver aid across all regions of Gaza as part of its 60-day scale-up plan for the ceasefire, which has so far proven effective.

“We’re offloading and collecting critical supplies and reaching areas we haven’t been able to access for months,” said Cherevko. “With the commercial sector reinforcing our response and bilateral assistance alongside us, we’re working to restore access to clean water and ensure people receive bread and hot meals.”

The UN and its partners have been working to resupply hospitals and field clinics that have been left without fuel or medical supplies for months, many of which were left only partially operational during the war. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), within 24 hours of the ceasefire taking effect, an emergency medical team was deployed to Al-Ahli Hospital.

Additionally, eight aid trucks carrying critical medical supplies, including insulin, cancer medicines, incubators, ventilators, patient monitors, and solar panels for desalination units, have reached the European Gaza and Nasser hospitals. Additional deployments are planned for Gaza City as displaced civilians begin returning to their areas of origin.

“Improving access to health facilities and expanding our operational missions are vital first steps toward delivering urgent health assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “Gaza’s health system must be rehabilitated and rebuilt. This crisis gives us the opportunity to rebuild it better: stronger, fairer and centered on people’s needs.”

Rubble and unexploded ordnance pose a significant threat to Palestinians returning home and remain one of OCHA’s top priorities during its sixty-day scale-up plan. Specialized OCHA teams are currently conducting assessments along key roads and crossings, making sure explosive ordnance is clearly marked and that communities know to stay away. The full extent of unexploded ordnance across the enclave has yet to be determined.

Despite marked improvements over the past several days, the scale of needs remains immense and additional funding is urgently required to support lifesaving services and ensure a sustained path for recovery. In addition to unexploded ordnance, displacement, destroyed infrastructure, lawlessness, damaged roads, and the collapse of basic services stand as significant challenges for humanitarian organizations.

“The ceasefire has ended the fighting but it has not ended the crisis,” noted Cherevko. “Scaling up responses is not just about logistics, and more trucks. It is about restoring humanity and dignity to a shattered population. We’re working around the clock with all parties to ensure predictable safe and sustained access.”

On October 14, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced that an estimated USD 20 billion will be required over the next three years to initiate Gaza’s reconstruction efforts—part of a broader recovery plan that could span decades and ultimately cost more than USD 70 billion. UNDP Representative Jaco Cillers told reporters in Geneva that while there are “good indicators” of support from potential donors in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, no commitments have yet been confirmed.

Numerous humanitarian experts have affirmed that lasting peace is the only viable solution to the crisis, warning that conditions in Gaza are extremely fragile and could deteriorate further—especially with the onset of the winter season. “Let me be clear, humanitarian aid alone will not be a substitute for peace,” said Cherevko. “The ceasefire must hold. It must become the basis for broader political efforts that bring the end of cycles of violence and despair.

“The ceasefire has opened the door to a future in which children can go to schools safely, hospitals are places of healing and not suffering, and aid convoys are ultimately replaced by commerce and opportunity.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Un nouveau système automatique de contrôle des entrées et sorties est désormais mis en place dans les 29 pays de l'espace Schengen depuis dimanche 12 octobre 2025

Suppression des tampons sur les passeports dans l'espace Schengen. Les voyageurs non européens séjournant moins de 90 jours devront désormais fournir leurs données biométriques, à savoir photo et empreintes digitales. Un nouveau système automatique de contrôle permet d'enregistrer la date, l'heure, le lieu d'entrée et de sorte et les informations relatives à chaque visiteur.

Les voyageurs devront faire le processus d'enregistrement eux-mêmes via des bornes libre-service installées dans les aéroports. Ce système automatique de contrôle spécifique à l'espace Schengen vise à renforcer la sécurité, de lutte contre la fraude et le terrorisme, et à mieux contrôler la durée des séjours.

A.A.A

Tennis-Star Belinda Bencic veröffentlicht schockierende Hassnachrichten auf Social Media. Laut der Weltnummer 14 gehören Kommentare weit unter der Gürtellinie leider zum Alltag.

Überraschende Wende im Fall der Nord-Stream-Anschläge: Italien verhindert die Auslieferung des Hauptverdächtigen nach Deutschland. Der 49-jährige Ukrainer entgeht vorerst der deutschen Justiz.

Une délégation de l'organisation internationale Mercy ships, était au cabinet du ministre de la santé, Benjamin Hounkpatin, le vendredi 10 octobre 2025. La délégation conduite par Jonathan Ziehli, directeur des relations diplomatiques de l'organisation, a examiné avec l'autorité ministérielle, les contours d'un nouveau partenariat avec le Bénin.

Après plusieurs années d'action humanitaire au Bénin à travers le navire hôpital « Africa Mercy », l'organisation internationale, Mercy ships annonce son retour au Bénin avec un nouveau vaisseau plus grand qui offre une capacité de prise en charge importante. Ceci, dans le cadre d'un nouveau partenariat visant des interventions ciblées et à impact durable pour le système de santé. Une délégation de l'organisation internationale a discuté avec le ministre de la santé, des contours de ce nouveau partenariat le vendredi 10 octobre dernier.

Selon le directeur des relations diplomatiques de l'organisation, Jonathan Ziehli, le bâtiment dénommé Global Mercy arrive au Bénin « très prochainement » pour y séjourner pendant dix mois renouvelables une fois. Pendant cette période, au moins 2000 interventions chirurgicales seront offertes aux populations béninoises. En plus des soins qui seront dispensés à des milliers de Béninois, des programmes de renforcement de capacité sont prévus à l'intention du personnel soignant. Des bourses de formation seront également attribuées aux étudiants évoluant dans « l'écosystème chirurgical ».

Dans le cadre du nouveau partenariat avec le Bénin, Mercy ships compte apporter son appui pour la réouverture de l'école d'odontostomatologie de Cotonou. Cette infrastructure moderne qui sera érigée grâce à cette coopération selon le chef cellule coopération et partenariat à la FSS, Ablo Prudence Watchinou, sera dotée d'un laboratoire de simulation moderne et d'une clinique universitaire de 22 cabines.

Ces interventions à impact durable ne pouvant être mises en œuvre sans un cadre légal approprié, le représentant de l'organisation a sollicité l'appui du ministre de la santé pour la signature d'un protocole d'accord de siège. Le but visé étant de faciliter la mise en œuvre de projets structurants au profit du Bénin. Une requête pour laquelle le ministre de la santé a manifesté la disponibilité du gouvernement béninois.

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Ein riesiger Kupferkessel im Wert von 4000 Franken wurde vor dem Möbelhaus Laubscher in Studen BE gestohlen. Die Besitzerin Luisiana Steffen (52) vermutet, dass Diebe den zwei Tonnen schweren Kessel mit einem Kran abtransportiert haben. Die Polizei ermittelt.

Nach einem Jahr Abwesenheit gab Liam Millar am Samstag sein Comeback im kanadischen Nationalteam. Nun erzählt er in einem bewegenden Gespräch von der schwierigen Zeit nach seiner Kreuzbandverletzung – und wie ihm seine Frau hat helfen können.

Les Béninois résidant sur le territoire ivoirien sont désormais tenus de se faire immatriculer au registre consulaire « e-Diaspora » pour l'obtention de tout type de documents. L'information a été rendue publique ce mercredi 14 octobre 2025.

Une opération spéciale d'immatriculation « e-Diaspora » vient d'être lancée par le Consulat honoraire du Bénin en Côte d'Ivoire. L'immatriculation à ce registre consulaire des Béninois de l'étranger est désormais obligatoire pour l'obtention de tout type de documents au Consulat. Pour permettre à tous les Béninois d'être immatriculés, une équipe a été mandatée par le Consul pour aller vers les populations aux fins de les assister dans cette procédure.

Marina HOUENOU (Stag)