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Columbia University Cracks Down on Pro-Palestinian Advocacy

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In this essay, Palestinian American scholar Rashid Khalidi describes how Columbia is gagging students and faculty who have opposed Israel’s mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, as university officials are moving further to the right under pressure from the Trump administration. The university became the epicenter of student encampments and other protests that swept the country last spring opposing the U.S.-backed Israeli war in Gaza and demanding that schools divest from businesses benefiting the Israeli regime.

Political Persecution: U.S. Gov’t Arrests Pro-Palestinian Student at Columbia University

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This article reports on the arrest on March 8 of Mahmoud Khalil by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. Khalil just graduated from Columbia University in New York City. He is among the thousands of students who have protested the U.S.-backed Israeli war on the Palestinian people and have denounced the disciplinary measures — including suspensions and expulsions — university authorities have carried out against such students to clamp down on pro-Palestinian advocacy. Khalil is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian origin and a legal immigrant to the United States. DHS agents reportedly told Khalil the government “had revoked his student visa,” even though he does not have a visa but a green card that gives him permanent resident status in the United States. Public protests and a letter writing campaign demanding Khalil’s immediate release are already underway.

North Carolina Amazon Workers Lose Union Vote

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In a lopsided loss, Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE) failed to secure a majority in a union vote held February 10-15 in Garner, North Carolina. The vote was 2,447 against to 829 for joining the union. About 76% of the approximately 4,300 workers eligible to vote cast ballots. Based on an interview with CAUSE co-founder and vice president Mary Hill, this article explores the reasons for this setback and what comes next.

Majority-Black Town in Ohio Launches Armed Watch after Neo-Nazi, Klan Provocations

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This article reports on efforts by residents of Lincoln Heights, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, to defend themselves against provocations by neo-Nazi thugs and Ku Klux Klansmen by organizing counter-mobilizations and an armed watch. Nearly 83% of the town’s approximately 3,000 residents are African American. Lincoln Heights was the first self-governing Black community to be founded north of the Mason-Dixon line, which divided the Union from the Confederate South during the U.S. civil war.

Trump’s 2nd Term: One-Man Rule & the Danger of Incipient Fascism (II)

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In its first month in office, the administration of U.S. president Donald Trump has made clear in word and deed it represents a break from liberal democracy — the form of government that has prevailed in the United States through most of the country’s 250-year-long history. It is an abrupt shift to the right in U.S. politics, one with grave dangers for the working class and all who favor democracy. The evidence points to the danger of the rise of an incipient fascist movement. “Incipient” in the sense of beginning to come into being or to become apparent. This is the second of two parts.

Trump’s 2nd Term: One-Man Rule & the Danger of Incipient Fascism (I)

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In its first month in office, the administration of U.S. president Donald Trump has made clear in word and deed it represents a break from liberal democracy — the form of government that has prevailed in the United States through most of the country’s 250-year-long history. It is an abrupt shift to the right in U.S. politics, one with grave dangers for the working class and all who favor democracy. The evidence points to the danger of the rise of an incipient fascist movement. “Incipient” in the sense of beginning to come into being or to become apparent. This is the first of two parts.

Gaza Ceasefire: Israel Emerges Stronger; War Not Over

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After 15 months of a genocidal war Israel launched on Palestinians in response to the grotesque October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, the first phase of a ceasefire went into effect in Gaza on January 19. It is now clear that Israel has made strategic gains, emerging from this war in a stronger position than when it began. It has substantially weakened its main adversaries in the region, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the regime in Iran. With ceasefires in place in both Lebanon and Gaza, Israel is now refocusing its military might in dealing new blows to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian people, meanwhile, face the bleakest prospects in decades in their quest for national self-determination.

Union Election Set at North Carolina Amazon Warehouse

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On January 7, exactly three years since the founding of Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (CAUSE), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that workers at Amazon’s RDU1 fulfillment center in Garner, North Carolina, have submitted union authorization cards exceeding the 30% threshold of employees required to trigger an election to choose or reject union representation. Voting is scheduled for February 10 – 15.

JFK8 Workers Authorize Strike, Demand Amazon Negotiate Union Contract

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The following is a press release by the Amazon Labor Union – International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1. World-Outlook is encouraging its readers to take the action the union suggests to support the workers at JFK8, Amazon’s giant fulfillment center in Staten Island, New York, as they are preparing to launch a strike demanding the company agree to negotiate a union contract.

Rashid Khalidi: ‘Israel’s Nightmare Scenario’ (II)

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This is the second of two parts of a wide-ranging interview with renowned Palestinian American scholar Rashid Khalidi. He returns to important themes he has previously discussed in the 14 months since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. “One of the problems we have today,” he explains, referring to the Palestinian struggle, “is disunity and the absence of a unified national movement and of a clear, unified strategy. Without that, you’re not going to liberate anything.” He also addresses the role of violence in the anti-colonial struggle. And he discusses the possibility of Jewish-Palestinian alliances.

Rashid Khalidi: ‘Israel’s Nightmare Scenario’ (I)

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In this wide-ranging interview with the Israeli daily Haaretz, renowned Palestinian American scholar Rashid Khalidi returns to important themes he has discussed at other times in the 14 months since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. “One of the problems we have today,” he explains, referring to the Palestinian struggle, “is disunity and the absence of a unified national movement and of a clear, unified strategy. Without that, you’re not going to liberate anything.” He also addresses the role of violence in the anti-colonial struggle. And he discusses the possibility of Jewish-Palestinian alliances.

Israel’s Revenge: An Interview with Rashid Khalidi (II)

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This is the second of two parts of an interview with Rashid Khalidi, a renowned Palestinian American scholar and author of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.” Khalidi discusses the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ferocity of the war the Israeli government launched in response. He touches on Israel’s war in Lebanon against Hezbollah and against other Iranian allies in the Middle East. He also details Washington’s indispensable support for Israel’s wars and the popular opposition in the United States and around the world to U.S. and Israeli war aims.

Israel’s Revenge: An Interview with Rashid Khalidi (I)

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This is the first part of an interview with Rashid Khalidi, a renowned Palestinian American scholar and author of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.” Khalidi discusses the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel and the ferocity of the war the Israeli government launched in response. He touches on Israel’s war in Lebanon against Hezbollah and against other Iranian allies in the Middle East. He also details Washington’s indispensable support for Israel’s wars and the popular opposition in the United States and around the world to U.S. and Israeli war aims.

Boeing Strikers Win What They Were Strong Enough to Take

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After 53 days on strike, members of International Association of Machinists voted on November 4 to approve Boeing’s third contract offer. The most important gain for workers was a significant wage increase — 38% over four years. Boeing also agreed to bonus payments and increased company contributions to employee 401K plans, but did not restore the defined benefit pension plan that the company ended in 2014.

North Gaza: ‘If It Looks Like Ethnic Cleansing, It Probably Is’

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“For three and a half weeks, Israeli forces have been besieging the northern Gaza Strip. Israel has almost completely blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, thereby starving the hundreds of thousands of people who live there.” That’s how the lead editorial in the October 29, 2024, Israeli daily Haaretz begins. “Given this, it’s no wonder that grave suspicions have arisen that Israel is effectively perpetrating ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza and that this operation is intended to permanently empty this area of Palestinians,” it continues, giving an accurate description of the latest stage in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Boeing Strikers Reject Latest Contract Offer

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In an October 23 vote, striking members of District 751 of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) rejected the aerospace giant’s latest contract offer by 64%. The union did not release figures on how many of its 33,000 members cast a ballot. The New York Times headline on the vote referred to the rejection as “resounding.”

‘Israel Kills Us, and Hamas Exploits Our Deaths’

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Just over a year since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, the war launched on Gaza by Israel in response is unrelenting: more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, over 100,000 injured, nearly all of Gaza’s entire prewar population of 2.3 million has been displaced, and much of the territory reduced to rubble. Most Gazans blame Israel for this devastation. But a growing number also blame the leadership of Hamas for giving Israeli authorities the opening to unleash this onslaught. In addition, some Gazans point to the often-brutal punishment Hamas metes out to Palestinians who voice any criticism of the organization. Such opinions are expressed in this column written by a Palestinian in northern Gaza, and corroborated by other similar reports.

Rashid Khalidi on U.S. Support to Israel, Palestinian National Movement (II)

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This is the second part of an interview with Rashid Khalidi, the Palestinian American author of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine.” In the interview, Khalidi discusses two key points — among other important ideas. The first concerns the U.S. role in enabling Israel’s brutal war in the region that has now spread far beyond the Gaza Strip. The second is about the state of the Palestinian national movement.

Rashid Khalidi on U.S. Support to Israel, Palestinian National Movement (I)

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In this interview, Rashid Khalidi, the Palestinian American author of “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine,” discusses two key points — among other important ideas. The first concerns the U.S. role in enabling Israel’s brutal war in the region that has now spread far beyond the Gaza Strip. The second is about the state of the Palestinian national movement.

North Carolina Amazon Workers Take Next Step Toward Union Organizing

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Workers at Amazon’s massive RDU1 fulfillment center in Garner, outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, have taken the next step in their nearly three-year effort to win union recognition. On Labor Day, Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (C.A.U.S.E.) started collecting signatures on union representation cards that will then be submitted to the National Labor Relations Board, petitioning for an election. World-Outlook interviewed C.A.U.S.E. co-founder and vice president Mary Hill via video to learn more about this important fight.

Before Ethiopian Crash, Boeing Concealed Critical Safety Information

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This article details how Boeing concealed information on a critical flight-control system in its 737 Max plane. Ethiopian Airlines pilots had requested the information after the 2018 catastrophic crash of the same type of aircraft operated by Lion Air, an Indonesian airline. Soon after the Ethiopian Airlines’ request, a 737 Max operated by this carrier nose-dived after taking off from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, killing all 157 people on board. After a lengthy investigation, and facing criminal federal charges, Boeing reached a plea deal with the U.S. Justice Department to pay damages in order to avoid a public trial. Families of many of those killed in these crashes are now trying to block this deal and force the case to a trial.

Israel Out of Lebanon and Gaza – End U.S. Aid

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On October 1, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) invaded Lebanon, the fourth time Israel has done so since 1978. The ground invasion followed a brazen Israeli escalation: exploding personal electronic devices, intense airstrikes, and the assassination of an array of Hezbollah leaders, including the group’s general secretary Hassan Nasrallah. Hours after the invasion of Lebanon, Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel, escalating the shadow war between the two countries. These events have posed the genuine danger of an even wider regional war that could spread beyond the Middle East.

Solidarity with Striking Dockworkers

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More than 45,000 dockworkers, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), in 14 ports along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States — from Maine to Texas — went on strike October 1. It’s their first walkout since 1977. The entire working class should embrace their cause. The labor movement can help win the battle for public opinion and a fair contract. A victory in the strike will reverberate across the country and help everyone trying to improve wages, benefits, and job safety.

Oppose Trump’s Big Lie About Haitian Immigrants

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In the September 10 nationally-televised presidential debate Donald Trump declared, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating, they’re eating, the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in this country.” This reprehensible, wild, and utterly false claim was directed primarily at Haitian workers who have moved to Springfield in the recent past. It’s an example of the “Big Lie” technique: amplifying a falsehood over and over with the intention of persuading large numbers of people that the lie is the truth.

New York Amazon Delivery Drivers Join the Teamsters in Surge of Momentum

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This article describes an accomplishment by hundreds of Amazon drivers at a delivery station in Queens, New York. A majority of these workers recently signed union authorization cards seeking representation by the Teamsters. They also marched on their employer’s offices on September 16 demanding the logistics giant recognize their union and negotiate a contract.

Venezuela’s Elections: Fraud Foretold?

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“Fraud Foretold?”, an essay in the political journal New Left Review, and other articles have presented convincing evidence that the official results of Venezuela’s recent election, announcing the victory of Nicolás Maduro, are likely fraudulent. This article summarizes this evidence and outlines the political developments in Venezuela over the last three decades that are the root cause of Venezuela’s current political crisis.

Angry Workers Begin Strike at Boeing

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SEATTLE, September 12, 2024 — Members of International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751, representing over 33,000 workers, voted by a stunning margin today to reject a new contract proposed by the Boeing Company and endorsed by the union’s top officials. “About 94.6% voted to reject the contract and 96% voted to strike, more than the two-thirds majority required by union rules to authorize a walkout,” reported The Seattle Times. The strike began at 12:01 am on September 13

Amazon Labor Union: ‘We’re Done Waiting’

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The following letter from the Amazon Labor Union – International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1 was sent on September 4, 2024, to workers at JFK8, Amazon’s giant warehouse in Staten Island, New York. It is aimed at reaching out to all JFK8 workers and drawing them into a discussion on determining a course of action to overcome Amazon’s obstructionism and force the company to negotiate a contract.

Many U.S. Flight Attendants Face Homelessness, Hunger

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Based on interviews with many flight attendants, this article paints an accurate and damning picture of the economic and social conditions these workers face today. About 110,000 flight attendants are currently employed by 14 major, and many more regional, airlines across the United States. The dire job and living conditions facing thousands of flight attendants, graphically outlined in this article, are one example of the plight of millions of working people today.

Alabama Bus Manufacturing Workers Unionize, Win Decent Contract

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This article reports on a successful union organizing drive at an electric bus manufacturing plant in Anniston, Alabama. A majority of the 600 workers at the factory run by New Flyer — a Canadian company — voted for union representation by the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA) in January 2024. By mid May, workers ratified a contract with major wage and benefit gains.

U.S. Elections: Rightist Radicalism Needs Working-Class Answer (II)

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The 2024 presidential election is less than three months away. The U.S. working class faces the same challenge posed throughout its history. In this class-divided society, the wealthy minority that makes up the capitalist class has two political parties. The working class has none. We are presented with the claim — by Democrats and Republicans alike — that their candidate speaks for working people and will improve our conditions. That’s an illusion. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have defended and will safeguard the interests of the capitalist class. The second part of this article takes up the similarities and differences between Trumpism and Buchananism, the failure of Democratic Party liberalism, and the prospects of working-class political action independent of the two parties of the wealthy — Democrats and Republicans.

U.S. Elections: Rightist Radicalism Needs Working-Class Answer (I)

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The 2024 presidential election is less than three months away. The U.S. working class faces the same challenge posed throughout its history. In this class-divided society, the wealthy minority that makes up the capitalist class has two political parties. The working class has none. We are presented with the claim — by Democrats and Republicans alike — that their candidate speaks for working people and will improve our conditions. That’s an illusion. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have defended and will safeguard the interests of the capitalist class. The first part of this article takes up the origins of Trumpism and its political continuity with the legacy of ultrarightist Patrick Buchanan.

Gazan Anger at Hamas Grows as War Drags On

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This article was first published on August 6, 2024, by +972 Magazine, “an independent, online, nonprofit magazine run by a group of Palestinian and Israeli journalists,” as its website says. The author, Mahmoud Mushtaha, is a Palestinian journalist from Gaza who was forced to flee his home and now resides in Cairo, Egypt. Mushtaha is also affiliated with We Are Not Numbers (WANN), “a youth-led Palestinian nonprofit project in the Gaza Strip,” per the organization’s website, which also says that WANN “tells the stories behind the numbers of Palestinians in the news and advocates for their human rights.”

Israel’s Abuse of Palestinian Prisoners Must End

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“Sexual-Abuse Case Rocking Israel’s Military Broke After Doctors Sounded Alarm” read a front-page headline in the August 6 Wall Street Journal. “Wounds to alleged Palestinian victim were so severe they needed surgery, triggering Israel’s rare decision to investigate their own reservists,” the subhead continued. As appalling as this incident is, it is only one of many now coming into public view. This post includes an article from the Israeli daily Haaretz: “Torture, Sexual Abuse and Humiliation |Dozens of Testimonies From Palestinian Prisoners Describe Conditions in Israeli Jails During Gaza war.”

Amazon Labor Union Reform Caucus Wins Leadership Election at NY Warehouse

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STATEN ISLAND, New York, August 1, 2024 — In an election for officers of the Amazon Labor Union–International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 1, held in July, the Democratic Reform Caucus candidates won all the positions. The union represents workers at Amazon’s giant JFK8 warehouse here. The results will be finalized after an August 6 deadline for filing objections.

California AFL-CIO: Remove Cuba from U.S. List of ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’

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SAN DIEGO, California — More than 700 delegates representing 2.3 million workers in nearly 2,000 union locals throughout California gathered here for the state AFL-CIO convention on July 16. Delegates unanimously passed a resolution opposing Washington’s inclusion of Cuba in its notorious list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (SSOT) and urging Cuba’s removal from it.

Author Adam Shatz on ‘Israel’s Descent’ (III)

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This is the last part of an article that appeared in the June 20, 2024, issue of the London Review of Books (LRB), a magazine based in the United Kingdom. Its author is Adam Shatz, LRB’s U.S. editor. Shatz’s essay begins with a list of recently published books that discuss Israel, Palestine, and Zionism. In reviewing those books, Shatz raises important issues that deserve further discussion in light of the gruesome October 7 attack led by Hamas that targeted civilians in Israel, the genocidal war Israel unleashed in retaliation on the entire population of Gaza, and a new wave of violence by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Zionist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.