On Oct. 7, thousands of American Jews with the organization If Not Now held vigils around the US to grieve the tens of thousands of Palestinian, Lebanese, and Israeli lives collectively lost over the past year. For many anti-Zionist Jews, the past year has been a time when their political commitments and principles have been put to the test. While the Biden and Netanyahu governments continue to weaponize antisemitism to justify the genocide in Gaza, many Jewish people are instead taking up the banner of justice and equality for Palestinians. The Real News reports from DC, speaking directly with organizers working with the Jewish American community to demand an arms embargo of Israel.

Production/Post-Production: Jaisal Noor

Transcript

The following is a rushed transcript and may contain errors. A proofread version will be made available as soon as possible.

Eliana Golding:

Our tears are abundant enough and our hearts are big enough to grieve for every life taken, every universe destroyed, whether Palestinian, Lebanese, or Israeli. It is not either or. We need one another. Jews cannot be safe if Palestinians are not safe and free.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

On October 7th, hundreds of American Jews held a vigil in Washington D.C to solemnly commemorate the one-year mark since the Hamas attack that killed 1,100 Israelis, and to condemn Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza that’s killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, though one study estimated in June that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributed to the current conflict.

Lauren Maunus:

We grieve the continuing genocide in Gaza, which we as Jews, many of whom had ancestors killed in the Holocaust, recognize as an attempt to wipe a people out.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

Speakers also condemn the ongoing attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Eliana Golding:

We grieve for the hundreds of Palestinians killed in the West Bank by the Israeli military and settlers, many of them in violent pogroms, reminiscent of those unleashed against our ancestors. We grieve for Palestinians continually displaced through occupation and apartheid.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

And Israel’s escalating attacks in Lebanon.

Lauren Maunus:

It is unimaginable that a full year later we are seeing similar scenes in Lebanon to those we saw in Gaza. Residential buildings bombed to rubble, Israeli and American officials using dehumanizing rhetoric to justify massacres of civilians and no ends to the violence in sight.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

The action was organized by If Not Now, a Jewish organization dedicated to fighting for Palestinian equality. Organizers said 4,000 turned out for vigils across Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. While they mourned each Jewish life lost over the past year, their message contrasted sharply with mainstream Jewish organizations. Speakers demanded an immediate ceasefire and an end to US weapon shipments to Israel.

Ethan Miller:

While we grieve today, we also are taking action to ensure that there’s not another sent to Israel to be used to kill any number of more innocent people, and that as American Jews, our voices need to be heard.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

Among the speakers was Lily Greenberg-Call, the first Jewish Biden administration appointee to resign over the U.S.’s ongoing support of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Lily Greenberg-Call:

I felt that, one, I needed to leave to be in integrity with myself, that I could not represent the President as he is making Jewish people the face of the American War machine, and using our trauma and our pain to justify slaughter of another people, and that I would actually potentially have more power to change this and to end what’s happening if I stepped out and if I resigned.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

Organizers emphasized that criticizing Israeli policy is not inherently anti-Semitic, and highlighted the challenge of speaking out for Palestinian rights in Jewish spaces.

Lily Greenberg-Call:

And I think the greatest threat for Jews remains white supremacy and white nationalism. And it’s very convenient for those people, especially to conflate anti-Semitism with critique of the state of Israel, because it distracts from the real threat. The only thing that will keep Jews safe is a multiracial democracy. And there’s a lot of people in this country, especially who are invested in fighting against that.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

Speakers emphasized Jewish safety will not be achieved through what they repeatedly named as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Lily Greenberg-Call:

We are here to really emphasize that the only way out of this is a new politics that values every single human life as equal, as dignified. And the only way to get to a thriving future for Palestinians and Israelis is a ceasefire and an end to the occupation and apartheid.

Jaisal Noor (Narrator):

For the Real News, this is Jaisal Noor reporting from Washington.

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Chinese equity markets have had a wild ride. Major indices surged by more than 30 per cent in the two weeks following Beijing’s September 24 economic stimulus announcement. They then fell back on fears that the stimulus might fall short.

Most likely, the markets will regain momentum once the Ministry of Finance reveals details of new fiscal spending at a press briefing on Saturday. Which sentiment is closer to the truth: euphoria or despair?

The answer is, neither. Markets were right to see the stimulus announcement as an inflection point and an opportunity to venture back into oversold Chinese assets. But they misjudged the underlying intent, which is to stabilise the economy rather than generate a major reacceleration. And they underestimated the constraints on stimulus imposed by Xi Jinping’s long-run strategy and by policymakers’ desire not to repeat past errors.

Xi’s strategic aims have not changed. He wants to shift capital from the property sector into technology-intensive manufacturing, which he sees as the basis of China’s future prosperity and power. Long-term economic growth, he believes, is driven by investment in technology, which will eventually generate high-wage jobs and rising incomes. China’s core task is not to maximise GDP growth but to create a self-sufficient, technologically powerful economy immune to efforts by the US to stunt its rise.

This programme is cogent as a national strategy, but unfriendly to financial investors. The emphasis on investment means that supply will always run ahead of demand, leading to deflationary pressure, which is bad for corporate profits. Even the favoured high-tech sectors face intense competition that will erode margins.

Xi has not retreated from this vision, but has accepted a change of tactics. The stimulus decision was driven by poor economic data including a sharp deterioration in manufacturing sales and employment, a chorus of criticism from Chinese economists, and the rising risk of protectionism against China’s exports. Short-run stabilisation is needed in order for the long-run plan to succeed. But measures will be rolled out carefully to avoid what policymakers believe were damaging mistakes in previous stimulus episodes.

One such “mistake” was the big infrastructure programme of 2008-09, which helped China recover quickly from the global financial crisis, but also began the pile-up of local-government debt, which rose from almost nothing 15 years ago to nearly 80 per cent of GDP today, including the liabilities of off-balance sheet financing vehicles. Another was Beijing’s cheerleading of a stock market bubble in 2015, which saw the CSI 300 double in a little over six months and then give up almost all its gains in two months.

Xi’s government is now determined not to overstimulate the real economy, nor to inflate another stock market bubble. The economic aims are to stabilise growth and prevent deflation from tightening its grip. The market goal is to restore enough confidence so that equity prices post steady, moderate rises. This will reopen the window for new listings and enable the stock market to resume its assigned role of financing China’s industrial policy ambitions.

This could work: Chinese policymakers have many tools, and Xi is finally allowing them to be used. But there is no evidence of a shift from the key policies undergirding Xi’s long-term vision: central control of finance and capital allocation, a tight rein on the property market, and prioritisation of investment over consumption.

Direct fiscal stimulus through the issuance of ultra long-term government bonds, if large enough, should boost growth and ward off deflation. But this new debt will refinance some local debt and subsidise households and businesses to trade in old appliances and equipment for new. Its function is to make investment more effective, not to give consumer demand a bigger role.

Similarly, the recapitalisation of the six largest state-owned banks will let them take on more risk despite record-low net interest margins. Yet it will also further entrench central control over the financial system and the allocation of capital. Mortgage deregulation will make it easier for cash-strapped families to buy houses, but does not reverse the basic decision to reduce property’s economic role.

In sum, the economy and financial returns are likely to pick up in the coming months. In the long run, though, China’s vision is unchanged: technology and self-sufficiency matter more than growth and profits.

SHOPPERS are raving as Lidl brings back its USA week with beloved snacks from fried chicken to toaster tarts.

For one week only, the supermarket giant is stocking all things American.

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A keen-eyed shopper had spotted the German supermarket stocking the American foods and drinks on Thursday.

They shared the post on Facebook group Newfoodsuk in which hundreds of people commented their enthusiasm for the products.

The limited-time range includes items such as a 750g Fried Chicken Bucket (£5.99) as well as a range of cheap American chocolates and other sweet treats.

It comes as part of Lidl’s Flavour of the Week programme which features foods from a specific world region for just 7 days.

Previous editions have covered the Alps, Iberian Peninsula, and Germany.

For its USA week, the retail is stocking a range of American and American-inspired cuisine.

Shoppers were quick to comment their excitement under the Facebook post.

One said: “Oh wow that all looks amazing.

“Lidl here I come.”

Another added: “Some of the bits look really nice.”

Many also expressed their desire to visit their local store as soon as possible.

Users tagged their friends saying “we are going tomorrow” and “we need to go.”

Lidl has stocked an extensive range of products for the week.

For just £1.99, you can get your hands on a set of nine pizza bagels in either Margherita, Salami, or Cheeseburger Style.

A packet of Chocolate or Nougat American Cookies could be yours for even less at just £1.29.

If you’re feeling in a more breakfast food mood, you can grab Mcennedy’s Pancake Mix (£1.19) and Clarks’ Maple Syrup (£1.99).

The special week also covers drinks with a Chocolate or Cranberry & Cherry Mcennedy Milkshake selling for just 59p.

Twenty-two people have been killed and 117 injured in Israeli air strikes on central Beirut, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

BBC reporters heard loud explosions echoing from the site of a strike in Bachoura, a small Shia area in the Lebanese capital. Rescuers were seen digging through rubble at the scene.

Ambulances rushed many injured to the American University hospital.

Unconfirmed media reports suggested the apparent target was Wafiq Safa, Hassan Nasrallah’s brother-in-law and one of Hezbollah’s high-ranking security officials. The group’s media office has not yet commented.

The Beirut strikes came after two relatively calm days in Lebanon’s capital, which has felt unusual after intensive strikes in recent weeks.

There was no warning beforehand.

This is the third time Israel has launched air strikes on the city outside of the suburb of Dahieh, where it has struck repeatedly, killing Hezbollah commanders and destroying munitions caches.

One woman outside the hospital, who did not want to be named, said she was in the building next-door to the blast and heard the explosion.

She said the building which was hit was entirely residential, adding that it was about four or five floors high. One of her relatives was being treated for head injuries.

The Beirut attack came hours after two Indonesian peacekeepers were injured in southern Lebanon when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower, according to the UN.

An observation tower at a UN base in Naqoura was directly hit, causing the peacekeepers to fall, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) said in a statement.

Unifil is a UN peacekeeping mission created in 1978, monitoring hostilities and helping to ensure humanitarian access to civilians in southern Lebanon.

The UN said Israeli forces had “repeatedly hit” UN positions in the last 24 hours. Israeli soldiers are also accused of deliberately shooting at the cameras and lights at two other Unifil bases.

The IDF said its troops had fired from the area around the base after ordering members of the base to remain in “protected places”.

Both peacekeepers were not seriously injured but remain in hospital, the UN said, adding that deliberate attacks on its peacekeepers were a “grave violation of international law”.

In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers fired at a base in Naqoura, “hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system,” the UN added.

An Israeli drone was also spotted flying above the bunker entrance.

Also in Naqoura, Hezbollah said it fired rockets at Israeli soldiers on the ground and used guided missiles to destroy a tank heading towards the area, leading to casualties.

There are now four divisions of Israeli soldiers fighting inside Lebanon as it continues its ground operations against Hezbollah, launched on 30 September.

A spokesperson for Unifil told the BBC on Thursday the force was “alarmed” and “deeply concerned” by the Israeli army’s activity in the area where peacekeeping troops are based.

Positions hit by Israeli forces are well known as UN sites, Andrea Tenenti said, adding it would be important to have a discussion with Israeli authorities “to understand what happened”.

Since 1978, Unifil has been operating in southern Lebanon, between the so-called “Blue Line” – the unofficial boundary separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights – and the Litani river, about 30km (20 miles) to the north.

Last week, Unifil refused to leave its positions near the Blue Line after being ordered to do so by the IDF.

There are around 10,000 Unifil military peacekeepers in Lebanon, from 50 contributing countries. There are also about 800 civilian staff.

Indonesia, where the injured peacekeepers are from, supplies more than 1,200 troops to Unifil, more than any other country.

The defence minister in Italy, which contributes more than 1,000 troops to Unifil, said the incidents were “intolerable” and must be “carefully and decisively avoided”.

Around 190 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel by Hezbollah on Thursday, the Israeli military said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Lebanese ministry of public health said an Israeli air strike on the village of Karak in eastern Lebanon had killed four people, injuring 17.

Lebanon’s government says as many as 1.2 million people have fled their homes over the past year.

Hostilities in the region have escalated steadily since Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel on 8 October 2023, the day after its ally Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people. A further 251 were taken to Gaza as hostages.

Since 7 October, nearly 42,000 people have been killed during Israel’s offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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Make employers pay more national insurance

Change the rules on inheriting pension savings

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Tax-free lump sum could be capped

Introducing a single rate of pension tax relief

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UNILEVER is finally calling quits on selling ice creams to Russia, two and a half years after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The FTSE 100 giant has come under pressure for funding the Kremlin’s war by remaining in the country.

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Unilever had been branded an “international sponsor of war” by the Ukrainian government — puncturing the woke firm’s self-styled reputation for social purpose and values.

The backlash included protests outside its London HQ.

The invasion of Ukraine triggered an exodus of big Western firms, including BP, McDonald’s and Burberry.

However, Unilever stayed put. The company, which also makes Dove, has now made a reported £430million selling its Russian assets to billionaire Alexey Sagal, who bought Heineken’s Russian subsidiary for €1.

Unilever did not say what it would be doing with the sale ­proceeds or whether it would donate them to Ukraine.

Rival KitKat-maker Nestle justified staying in Russia with slimmed-down operations of “essential products” such as baby milk.

But Unilever was still making products such as Magnums, ­Cornettos and Ben & Jerry ice cream from four factories in the country.

By remaining in Russia, Unilever contributed millions of pounds in taxes to the Russian government.

The Moral Rating agency had estimated Unilever’s business propped up the Russian economy to the tune of $650million (£498million) a year, which it said was “enough to pay for an Iranian drone every 17 minutes”.

Nataliya Popovych, a co-founder of the B4Ukraine coalition, said: “We are pleased to see Unilever make the right move, even though such a decision comes two years too late.”

Hein Schumacher, Unilever’s boss, previously said remaining in Russia was the “least bad” option, which avoided handing over its workforce, factory and assets.

Yesterday Mr Schumacher said the sale to Mr Sagal’s Arnest Group “ends Unilever presence in the country”.

He said: “Over the past year, we have been carefully preparing the Unilever Russia business for a potential sale.

“This work has been very complex, and has involved separating IT platforms and supply chains.”

SELLING UP TO BEAT BUDGET

FEARS that the Chancellor will hike capital gains tax in the Budget have prompted many business owners to fast-track selling their firms over the past year, figures show.

A poll of 500 owners by wealth advisers Evelyn Partners found 23 per cent of those to accelerate selling up had done so because they feared a hit from CGT relief.

A fifth were driven by concerns over inheritance tax relief, making it more costly to pass family firms to the next generation.

Evelyn tax partner Laura Hayward said: “The PM’s statement that the upcoming Budget would be ‘painful’ has put owner-managed businesses on edge.”

Charles Hall, of broker Peel Hunt, said rumoured changes to business relief would “fatally undermine” London’s junior Aim stock market, destroying up to £21billion of shareholder value and risking jobs.

SHARES in GSK briefly rose by 7 per cent yesterday as it agreed to pay £1.7billion to settle a legal dispute with 80,000 Zantac users.

The heartburn drug was pulled in 2019 amid fears of carcinogens. GSK did not admit liability. Shares closed up 3 per cent.

IKEA IDEA ON PRICE

IKEA’S decision to cut prices has led to lower revenues at the Swedish furniture giant.

It posted a 6.8 per cent drop in UK sales to £2.3billion after investing £117million in lowering prices by around 20 per cent on 3,481 products.

More than half of its sales this year have been online, compared with 38 per cent two years ago. Ikea UK boss Peter Jelkeby said: “Continuing to lower prices remains our long-term priority.”

TSB FINED£10M FOR BAD HELP

TSB has been fined £10.9million for its unfair treatment of customers.

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The Financial Conduct Authority said the bank had “woeful systems and controls” and created unrealistic repayment plans.

A TSB staffer had suggested a borrower removed the £20 a month they had allocated for children’s clothes and made sandwiches instead of paying for school meals.

In another case the bank applied arrears to a dead customer’s mortgage payments.

It also applied arrears to a customer after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and did not flag another as vulnerable despite them making repeated references to suicide in calls.

The failings took place between June 2014 and March 2020.

TSB agreed to resolve the issues identified, which meant the fine was cut by 30 per cent from £15.6million.

DAWN OF THE A.I. BOSS

WORKERS will soon be right when complaining that their boss is a robot — with video call firm Zoom creating artificial intelligence avatars for conference calls.

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Its latest AI software means that bosses can use a digital version of themselves, or a generic avatar, to deliver brief video messages to workers on calls.

Zoom’s boss Eric Yuan has previously talked about creating a “digital twin” of himself as a way to solve busy people’s problem of how to be in two places at the same time.

The rise of remote working has meant bosses are increasingly delivering news of lay-offs via video calls — meaning workers could find themselves being let go by a robot in the near future.