Human Rights

02 Mar 2020; MEMO: Advocates for the state of Israel have suffered an embarrassing defeat in a decade-long legal battle to sue Olympia Food Co-op over its decision to boycott Israeli goods. The US grocery store, which campaigns for ethical food consumption, was fully vindicated by a Washington appeals court on 20 February in a legal case that is likely to have positive ramifications for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (

02 Mar 2020; MEMO: The peace treaty between Jordan and Israel is “definitely at risk” according to Omar Al-Razzaz. The Jordanian prime minister made this bleak assessment during an interview with CNN during which he warned that the treaty, signed in 1994, was at peril because of Israel’s “unilateral measures” and the Israeli government’s “violation of the sanctity of Muslim and Christian endowments in Jerusalem”.

02 Mar 2020; MEMO: Israel’s Ambassador to the UN said on Sunday that the US will punish those who boycott companies and individuals on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) blacklist of those which profit from the occupation of the West Bank.

02 Mar 2020; MEMO: In a last-minute bid for votes in today’s election, Benajmain Netanyahu has pledged to annex key parts of the occupied West Bank within “weeks” if re-elected.

Netanyahu made the pledge during an interview with Israeli public radio yesterday, envisioning the annexation of the Jordan Valley and other parts of the occupied West Bank.

Adding that the plan is part of “four major immediate missions” which would take no longer than two months”.

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) The Supreme court on Monday decided to hear on March 4 a plea seeking registration of FIRs against politicians for hate speeches which allegedly led to violence in the national capital.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde agreed to hear the plea filed by riots victims.

Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) The Central government is "100%'' responsible for the Delhi violence, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here on Sunday and accused the ruling BJP of playing divisive politics in the national capital after losing the Assembly elections.

Addressing the convention of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) here, Pawar also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speeches in the run-up to the Delhi polls.

Panaji, Mar 1 (PTI) Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) activist Ramakrishna Jalmi was arrested on Sunday over his alleged controversial utterances during a rally in South Goa on Saturday.

Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Pankaj Kumar said Jalmi has been arrested under sections 295 (A) and 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for hurting religious sentiments.

Aligarh, Mar 2 (PTI) Fifteen people, including eight Aligarh Muslim University students, have been booked for allegedly instigating anti-CAA protests, police said here on Monday.

Police said apart from former AMU students' union vice-president Sajjad Rathar, those booked included students belonging to Kashmir.

A case was registered against them at the Civil Lines police station on Sunday for instigating protests at the Jiwangarh bypass here, police said.

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) The Delhi police has denied permission for a march from the Ramlila Maidan to the Parliament against the new citizenship law, officials said on Monday.

The Young India Coordination Committee, which comprises members from various students' bodies, had given a call for the march on Tuesday.

Police said the application for permission was submitted in New Delhi and Central police districts, and it was not granted.

Kolkata, Mar 2 (PTI) The communal conflagration in Delhi was "state-sponsored planned genocide", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Monday and claimed an attempt was being made by the BJP to replicate the "Gujarat model of riots" across the country.

Banerjee, while addressing a TMC event, insisted it was due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that "so many people were killed" in the Delhi violence. "Amit Shah should keep this in mind".